Post by The BombTrax on Sept 18, 2016 19:14:45 GMT
Live From The Pure Arena
Purity, LA
Friday, September 30th, 2016 at 10 pm CST
BEFORE CURTAIN
The four of them lurk there in the shadows with the camera framing them. Francis Ford Cuppola, Rodney P and in front of them the two French Mime Assassins coiled and ready to strike! Ahead of them, crouched, is a figure dressed all in black with what looks like a mask on.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: You guys ready?
The mimes give a collective exaggerated thumbs up to Francis.
RODNEY P: I can’t believe we got the jump on Deus. He’s supposed to be some sort of master trickster…
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Hey, I warned PAW what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass. Nobody listened. It’s like they didn’t understand what I meant. Like they think I was doing lines or something! And then I warned PAW we had a message to send… and now we send it since no one is taking us seriously. This masked Deus character thinks he can jump these mimes and get away with it? Well, it’s go time. GET HIM!
The mimes charge out like lions, the camera racing in behind Rodney and Francis as Comme Ci strikes his knee right into the back of Deus and Comme Ca runs past him, hooking the mask and hitting a jumping cutter right off the loading dock onto a set of skids below!
Francis and Rodney stop at the dock leveler and watch the mimes go to work laying a beat down onto the fallen Deus
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: GET THAT BASTARD!
Rodney and Francis cheer them on as the mimes lift a skid together and proceed to batter down on Deus before breaking it entirely over the enigmatic masked figure as it tries to rise. The Mimes start timing punches and kicks in a masterful display of tag-team tandem fighting that makes short work of Deus’ resolve! Before long the mimes prop Deus up by either arm, and Francis and Rodney calmly make their way down to put the finishing touches on this textbook beatdown.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Tsk. Tsk. Tsk,
Francis strides like a Mafioso, his jacket resting on his shoulders without his arms in the sleeves. Rodney strides behind him. They stop before the mimes presenting the soundly beaten Deus.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Rodney,
Francis speaks to Rodney over his shoulder.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Get that welding torch over there. We’re going to make sure this DEUS fellow learns his lesson. Heh, heh, heh.
Francis grins evilly as the masked man groans and lolls in and out of unconsciousness. Rodney brings over a canister of fuel and a welding torch and presents it to Francis before taking a good look at the mimes have propped up and ready for Francis’ final touch.
RODNEY P: Uhhhh. Francis.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Not now, Rodney. I’m about to take a blow torch to this Douchebag’s testicles.
Francis chuckles heartily.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Haha! You all see that?! “Douchebag”. Sounds like Deusbag. I slay me. But seriously. Let the pain begin.
Francis lights the fuse to the torch and Deus begins to squirm.
RODNEY P: Uh, Francis?
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: You know better than to interrupt me when I'm castrating someone, Rodney, what is it?
RODNEY P: I know, I know. We've been over it, but that’s not Deus.
Faces drop. The mimes maintain their hold on “Deus’” arms but eye the man they’ve assaulted with sidelong uncertainty.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Oh yeah, wise guy? And what makes you so sure?
Rodney flicks the name tag on the man’s overalls.
RODNEY P: Because the name tag doesn’t say “DEUS”, it says "DAVE".
A long pause as Francis wields the torch spitting starter fire and the mimes notice the man they’ve beaten up is wearing a welder’s mask.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: ….huh. Who the hell’s Dave?
RODNEY P: The man you’re about to castrate with a welding torch.
A pause of confusion as Francis eyes his torch and then “Dave”.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: So… you’re saying Deus isn’t here?
RODNEY P: Nah, Deus isn’t here, man. That’s Dave.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: But who’s Dave?
RODNEY P: The guy we had the mimes beat up mercilessly.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Oh…
Realization sets in.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Well this kind of backfired, didn't it?
Francis chuckles heartily to himself. Rodney, already aware of the damage they’ve done, nods with overwhelming concern.
RODNEY P: YES!
More silence as Francis eyes the two mimes inexplicably. Francis grudgingly gestures to the mimes to put Dave down, which they do. He is dropped unceremoniously into the pile of skids he was lately smashed into and beaten with, and the mimes step away innocently. All eyes look to Francis who doesn’t know what to do. His own eyes darting around to see if anyone witnessed what just happened.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Well, you see, the thing is... I thought this guy was Deus and the Mimes have a bone to pick with Deus, so it only made sense to jump him, and here he was and... Well, it’s apparently not him, so, I guess... it’s back to the uhhh... gotta redo the old, uhhh, you know... the pictures and planning on the old drawing board and at least we still have Phase 2, and--RUN!
Like bats in the night the group takes flight leaving Dave to hopefully recover!
“A Warrior’s Call” by Volbeat joins a long pan of the semi-darkened The James Center Arena, revealing within the spotlights that the turnout is packing the building to capacity, with some spilling out of their seats. The song plays and we sweep over the ring, the fans, the stands, the ramp, backstage where workers hurry to set up.
Cut to the mega screen over the entryway, clips and highlights from last nights Addiction begins to play; A scene of the mysterious Shizuka's entrance, and the match that played out afterwards against Aokigahara Zombie; Summer and Caroline O'Hara Burchill, two of PAW's most violent females facing off for dominance; Nova Wonder and Sinister Minister's encounter, ending with Nova's Starfall finisher putting the Minister on his back; Hunter Storms surprising Hunter's Mark on Annabel Lee, shocking the world by taking home the Crank Championship; And the Main Event, where Black Jack Colter and Anastasia Hayden had false finish after false finish, leaving the crowd breathless; Finally a ticking TNT bomb, which becomes an animated bomb, that counts down from 10 and ignites a graphical EXPLOSION on the screen which turns into real pyrotechnics and fireworks from the stage and ramp. The entire arena is electric as the camera falls on the announce table where sits Percival Banion Chord and Caitlin Casey.
PERCY: Welcome everyone to another action packed WICKED Live from the sold out Pure Arena here in Purity, Louisiana! I am your host, Percival Banion Chord, and this lovely lady to my left is Caitlin Casey, and we have got an exciting show here for you tonight. But first! Cat, how does it feel to be back home in Purity!
CAT: First off, I live in New Orleans like civilized people. Secondly, we were just here last night, Percy. And last, but not least, we're here every other Thursday for ADDICTION! I wouldn't call this a home coming.
PERCY: C'mon, Cat! This is the first time WICKED has returned to The Pure Arena since going Live on the Circle Television Network! It's always a special time when we broadcast from the Pure Amusement Park. Are you telling me you aren't excited?
CAT: Oh, I'm excited all right. Excited to see two lovebirds tear each other limb for limb for a chance to go onto the Main Event at Seven Deadly Sins!
PERCY: That's right, folks, later on tonight in the Main Event, Cross Recoba will go one on one with Kelsey Spencer for that right, and I have to imagine it's playing hell on their nerves right now.
CAT: Maybe on Kelsey's, but Cross Recoba is as cool as a cucumber. I have it on good authority it was his plan all along to butter her up just so that if this happened he could put her down like the love sick puppy she is.
PERCY: Well, that remains to be seen, as we have another unique situation when the PAW Tag Team Champions will face off against.....Each other?
CAT: Now that's a relationship that I'm worried about seeing disabled. I mean, these guys are Tag Partners. The champs. How are they gonna get along after a match like this, which is also a qualifier for Seven Deadly Sins?
PERCY: I don't know, Cat, but let's hope they can put it past them when the dust finally settles.
CAT: Speaking of dust settling, Johnny Raike must've felt like someone walked over his grave when he saw who he was booked against this week!
PERCY: Yes, it would seem that Deus is making the rounds. You know, I don't really get this person's agenda. The Enigma says that we all must pay for what we did, and that PAW was built upon Deus' back, but come on. Deus wasn't even apart of PAW when it formed.
CAT: I don't know, and don't really care. I just don't want that freak anywhere near me.
PERCY: Speaking of freaky, The Virus makes his debut here tonight against The Greek God, Roscar, and he has a pretty big mountain to climb in that one.
CAT: Yeah, and what's with that idiot hijacking our programming with that virus nonsense. Is that fucker sick or something? I don't do with all that, Percy!
PERCY: I don't know, Cat, but maybe we'll find out here tonight.
CAT: Wait....I'm getting word we've got something going on in the back. Let's go check it out!
Cut to the mega screen over the entryway, clips and highlights from last nights Addiction begins to play; A scene of the mysterious Shizuka's entrance, and the match that played out afterwards against Aokigahara Zombie; Summer and Caroline O'Hara Burchill, two of PAW's most violent females facing off for dominance; Nova Wonder and Sinister Minister's encounter, ending with Nova's Starfall finisher putting the Minister on his back; Hunter Storms surprising Hunter's Mark on Annabel Lee, shocking the world by taking home the Crank Championship; And the Main Event, where Black Jack Colter and Anastasia Hayden had false finish after false finish, leaving the crowd breathless; Finally a ticking TNT bomb, which becomes an animated bomb, that counts down from 10 and ignites a graphical EXPLOSION on the screen which turns into real pyrotechnics and fireworks from the stage and ramp. The entire arena is electric as the camera falls on the announce table where sits Percival Banion Chord and Caitlin Casey.
PERCY: Welcome everyone to another action packed WICKED Live from the sold out Pure Arena here in Purity, Louisiana! I am your host, Percival Banion Chord, and this lovely lady to my left is Caitlin Casey, and we have got an exciting show here for you tonight. But first! Cat, how does it feel to be back home in Purity!
CAT: First off, I live in New Orleans like civilized people. Secondly, we were just here last night, Percy. And last, but not least, we're here every other Thursday for ADDICTION! I wouldn't call this a home coming.
PERCY: C'mon, Cat! This is the first time WICKED has returned to The Pure Arena since going Live on the Circle Television Network! It's always a special time when we broadcast from the Pure Amusement Park. Are you telling me you aren't excited?
CAT: Oh, I'm excited all right. Excited to see two lovebirds tear each other limb for limb for a chance to go onto the Main Event at Seven Deadly Sins!
PERCY: That's right, folks, later on tonight in the Main Event, Cross Recoba will go one on one with Kelsey Spencer for that right, and I have to imagine it's playing hell on their nerves right now.
CAT: Maybe on Kelsey's, but Cross Recoba is as cool as a cucumber. I have it on good authority it was his plan all along to butter her up just so that if this happened he could put her down like the love sick puppy she is.
PERCY: Well, that remains to be seen, as we have another unique situation when the PAW Tag Team Champions will face off against.....Each other?
CAT: Now that's a relationship that I'm worried about seeing disabled. I mean, these guys are Tag Partners. The champs. How are they gonna get along after a match like this, which is also a qualifier for Seven Deadly Sins?
PERCY: I don't know, Cat, but let's hope they can put it past them when the dust finally settles.
CAT: Speaking of dust settling, Johnny Raike must've felt like someone walked over his grave when he saw who he was booked against this week!
PERCY: Yes, it would seem that Deus is making the rounds. You know, I don't really get this person's agenda. The Enigma says that we all must pay for what we did, and that PAW was built upon Deus' back, but come on. Deus wasn't even apart of PAW when it formed.
CAT: I don't know, and don't really care. I just don't want that freak anywhere near me.
PERCY: Speaking of freaky, The Virus makes his debut here tonight against The Greek God, Roscar, and he has a pretty big mountain to climb in that one.
CAT: Yeah, and what's with that idiot hijacking our programming with that virus nonsense. Is that fucker sick or something? I don't do with all that, Percy!
PERCY: I don't know, Cat, but maybe we'll find out here tonight.
CAT: Wait....I'm getting word we've got something going on in the back. Let's go check it out!
The scene opens to a camera shot following behind Lady Munin. Her heel's clip the concrete floor as she walks towards a door with a magnetic sign that reads 'Munin's Office'. She starts to stroll right on in, but comes to a stop when she notices the door slightly ajar, and a light peeking out from inside. She rakes back her raven colored hair from the right side of her face, and places her ear up against the door. There was someone in her office.
VOICE: Mmmhmm, interesting, interesting. And that mutha-fuckah over there. Yeah, he's got potential. Maybe a little 'X' out here, and an 'X' out there....yeah, now that's a fucking Pay-Per-View!
Munin's eyes narrow, as if she has heard enough, and she shoves the door open stalking into the room with a vengeance. In her chair is a wiry black man in his mid to late forties, hair trimmed close to the skull, and his skin a dark mocha. The first thing she notices about him is the sudden grin that flashes across his face at the sight of her, one that takes up the lower half of his face, all perfect whitened teeth gleaming at her like a damn spot light. The second is the sparkle in his eye that is completely different than the grin that he beams at her. There were several things she could attribute to the man by that gleam, but ambition was paramount among them. Thirdly, was his fancy Armani suit, and the diamond encrusted Rolex watch adorning his left wrist. She didn't know who this man was that was sitting in her seat, but he was akin to the Cheshire Cat from Alice In Wonderland, and she can already tell she isn't going to like him. He never gives her the chance to tell him to, 'Get the hell out of my chair', as he is already up and on the move around the desk, arms thrown wide, and still beaming that irritating grin.
MAN: God damn, girl, I tell you what. I've seen the pictures online, seen the posters, watched the tapes, and even seen the show, and if I'd known you were going to be this hot in person, shit...I'd have brought flowers.
He extends his hand, the grin returning, that twinkle in his eye never really going away. Munin merely arches an eyebrow, while leveling him with her coldest glare. None the less she takes his offered hand, and even shakes it for a moment...before twisting it into a painful lock.
LADY MUNIN: Who... are...you?
The man's face twists up into disarray and pain, and yet somehow that stupid grin never leaves his face despite his predicament.
MAN: Whoa, whoa, whoa! Where are my manners! I'm Kevin O'Neil, the Circle Television Network Correspondent assigned to your promotion. You know, the guy who signs the checks, and pays the bills. Damn, babe, you got on hell of a grip...
Munin immediately releases her grip, and her lips twist into an apologetic smile that doesn't reach her eyes.
LADY MUNIN: My apologies. I find that lately I don't take surprise visits overly well. Especially when the visitor is a stranger.
She pauses for a moment to moisten her lips before continuing.
LADY MUNIN: How may I help you?
O'Neil rubs his wrist, eyeing the woman, and for the first time the brightness of that grin begins to flicker, until finally it settles into a closed mouth smile.
KEVIN O'NEIL: Well, actually, it's the other way around. I'm here to help you. See, PAW is a hot prospect for sure, but it can be hotter. You're the first of your kind, by the way, as CTN usually only hosts wrestlers and their programming for the audience to watch. This organization made history a few weeks ago when it aired Live through our broadcasting channels, as it was the first promotion we've ever picked up. The numbers look good, projections are up on this upcoming PPV, BUT...
The grin returns, and he leans against her desk casually, as if he owns it.
KEVIN O'NEIL: It could be better.
He lets that hang in the air between them. Munin. O'Neil. And that damnable grin. If Munin was sitting at her desk she would be hard pressed not to tap her nails against the polished wood. It was the grin. The grin made her want to bash his face in. That wasn't an option though, so instead she busied herself with pouring a glass of water.
LADY MUNIN: Do tell.
KEVIN O'NEIL: Oh, I'd much rather show you. My people will be in touch with your people, but right now I think I'm going to go take in this show. It should be one hell of a night all things considered.
The grin never fades as he makes his way towards the exit, pausing in the doorway to look over his shoulder, his eyes roaming over Munin's body, as if he were undressing her in his mind.
KEVIN O'NEIL: For real, though. Stone cold fox!
He lets out a laugh before disappearing into the hallway, and Munin can hear his annoying voice as he greets other PAW backstage workers in that same condescending way. A frown breaks through her otherwise expressionless face, and her hand is unconsciously wiped off against her side. The scene fades to commercial.
ON NEWSTANDS NOW!
WITH FOUR VARIANT COVERS!
VOICE: Mmmhmm, interesting, interesting. And that mutha-fuckah over there. Yeah, he's got potential. Maybe a little 'X' out here, and an 'X' out there....yeah, now that's a fucking Pay-Per-View!
Munin's eyes narrow, as if she has heard enough, and she shoves the door open stalking into the room with a vengeance. In her chair is a wiry black man in his mid to late forties, hair trimmed close to the skull, and his skin a dark mocha. The first thing she notices about him is the sudden grin that flashes across his face at the sight of her, one that takes up the lower half of his face, all perfect whitened teeth gleaming at her like a damn spot light. The second is the sparkle in his eye that is completely different than the grin that he beams at her. There were several things she could attribute to the man by that gleam, but ambition was paramount among them. Thirdly, was his fancy Armani suit, and the diamond encrusted Rolex watch adorning his left wrist. She didn't know who this man was that was sitting in her seat, but he was akin to the Cheshire Cat from Alice In Wonderland, and she can already tell she isn't going to like him. He never gives her the chance to tell him to, 'Get the hell out of my chair', as he is already up and on the move around the desk, arms thrown wide, and still beaming that irritating grin.
MAN: God damn, girl, I tell you what. I've seen the pictures online, seen the posters, watched the tapes, and even seen the show, and if I'd known you were going to be this hot in person, shit...I'd have brought flowers.
He extends his hand, the grin returning, that twinkle in his eye never really going away. Munin merely arches an eyebrow, while leveling him with her coldest glare. None the less she takes his offered hand, and even shakes it for a moment...before twisting it into a painful lock.
LADY MUNIN: Who... are...you?
The man's face twists up into disarray and pain, and yet somehow that stupid grin never leaves his face despite his predicament.
MAN: Whoa, whoa, whoa! Where are my manners! I'm Kevin O'Neil, the Circle Television Network Correspondent assigned to your promotion. You know, the guy who signs the checks, and pays the bills. Damn, babe, you got on hell of a grip...
Munin immediately releases her grip, and her lips twist into an apologetic smile that doesn't reach her eyes.
LADY MUNIN: My apologies. I find that lately I don't take surprise visits overly well. Especially when the visitor is a stranger.
She pauses for a moment to moisten her lips before continuing.
LADY MUNIN: How may I help you?
O'Neil rubs his wrist, eyeing the woman, and for the first time the brightness of that grin begins to flicker, until finally it settles into a closed mouth smile.
KEVIN O'NEIL: Well, actually, it's the other way around. I'm here to help you. See, PAW is a hot prospect for sure, but it can be hotter. You're the first of your kind, by the way, as CTN usually only hosts wrestlers and their programming for the audience to watch. This organization made history a few weeks ago when it aired Live through our broadcasting channels, as it was the first promotion we've ever picked up. The numbers look good, projections are up on this upcoming PPV, BUT...
The grin returns, and he leans against her desk casually, as if he owns it.
KEVIN O'NEIL: It could be better.
He lets that hang in the air between them. Munin. O'Neil. And that damnable grin. If Munin was sitting at her desk she would be hard pressed not to tap her nails against the polished wood. It was the grin. The grin made her want to bash his face in. That wasn't an option though, so instead she busied herself with pouring a glass of water.
LADY MUNIN: Do tell.
KEVIN O'NEIL: Oh, I'd much rather show you. My people will be in touch with your people, but right now I think I'm going to go take in this show. It should be one hell of a night all things considered.
The grin never fades as he makes his way towards the exit, pausing in the doorway to look over his shoulder, his eyes roaming over Munin's body, as if he were undressing her in his mind.
KEVIN O'NEIL: For real, though. Stone cold fox!
He lets out a laugh before disappearing into the hallway, and Munin can hear his annoying voice as he greets other PAW backstage workers in that same condescending way. A frown breaks through her otherwise expressionless face, and her hand is unconsciously wiped off against her side. The scene fades to commercial.
ON NEWSTANDS NOW!
WITH FOUR VARIANT COVERS!
Opening Bout
Singles Match
Chris McKenzie versus Roscar
When the show returns, Cameras roll inside the arena with the focus being on the fans. As one would have expected they are alive and well waiting on the next bit of action. Then within a blink of an eye the arena goes pitch black. Not a single source of light is seen. Although the crowd can be heard due to their confusion on what was going on. That’s when a BEEP sound is heard which brings the attention to the entrance set up. Right there on the titantron is what appears to be the set up of a vitals monitor. A red line appears across the screen and every time a beep is heard it forces a line to jump all across the screen. Then confusion from the crowd is a little louder.
Another beep is heard forcing that red line to move across the screen of the titantron. Yet no sooner than it moves across the screen the entire line goes completely flat. Which forces a long drawn out annoying beep to fill the speakers of the arena very much resembling a flatline. It isn’t long before the screen begins to flash a bio-hazard logo as the drawn out beeping sound is replaced by the sounds of “Monster” by Skillet. At the exact same time there is a blinding flash of lights with the arena lights coming right back on. By this point the fans have started to make the connection to what is going on which leads to them booing as loudly as they can to let their voices be heard.
The hard cam goes right up to the entranceway and in doing so the curtain can be seen being moved to the side. Only for the man known as “The Virus” to come stepping out from behind it in a slow steady pace. After a few steps towards the middle of the ramp Chris McKenzie stops and glares at the fans in attendance. Their boos get louder in just seeing him, but those boos don’t seem to do anything for them. McKenzie just glares with a slight smirk crossing his lips. Taking that brief moment in to take in the hatred he is receiving before beginning his journey down the ramp. Each step he makes is slow and steady seemingly taking his time.
RICHARD ANDERSON: Following contest is scheduled for one fall. Introducing at this time hailing from Chicago, Illinois and weighing in at two hundred and forty seven pounds. He is The Virus, CHHHRRRRIIIISSSS MCKKKKENNNNZZZIIIIEEEE!
Hearing his name be announced gets the man more hate from the crowd. Hate that McKenzie ignores with him approaching the ring. Turning slowly to take a couple of steps towards the ring steps. He then makes his way up the steps with the same steady motion and walks across the apron. At the middle of the ramp McKenzie stops and looks around at those at ringside booing him. This seems to bring that smirk of his out a little more while he lifts his leg over the middle rope and then ducks down to climb into the ring. Upon being in the ring McKenzie simply turns to the nearest corner and makes his way to the second rope.
For a couple of seconds McKenzie just stands there on the ropes getting a better view of the fans in attendance and hearing their boos being tossed in his direction. The man truly seems motivated by the hate with him soaking it in boo by boo. In that moment the Virus finds himself very slowly raising his hands up and over his head. Letting his head tilt back just a tad bit and coming off like he is encouraging them to continue to boo him. Something the fans do. They feed right into his actions getting a little louder. At this point they are so loud it is hard to hear yourself think. Suddenly his theme cuts off which leads to McKenzie lowering his arms and then stepping down. His focus now being on the match at hand.
Roscar enters the stadium as "Before I Forget" by Slipknot is heard around the arena. He is holding a beer can. Roscar stands still and he is looking at floor.
He opens wide his arms and does the metal horns and suddenly fireworks light the whole arena. He walks down the ramp slowly heading to the ring.
RICHARD ANDERSON: His opponent from Athens, Greece and weighing in at 214lbs. It is the Greek God, ROOOOOSSSSCAAARR!
He reaches ringside, and before entering the ring, he takes a sip, crushes the can with his hand and then, he throws it behind him. Then he gets off his t-shirt and then enters the ring.
PERCY: Wilson Fisk has accompanied Roscar to the ring speaking to him the whole time. I wonder what he said.
CAT: I would guess probably whispering sweet nothings into his ear.
PERCY: I think it has something to do with the match that Refano is about to start.
The bell rings and they tie up with neither man gaining any advantage. McKenzie breaks the hold with a small spin and has Roscar in a wrist lock. He flips him over and twists his arm around while Roscar is on the ground. Roscar slaps the mat and slowly tries to turn and get up only for McKenzie to pace a foot on his head and scrape the sole of his boots on the side of Roscar’s face. He lets go with a smirk. Roscar instantly gets up but the Virus strengthens the hold. Roscar leans back and awkwardly pulls McKenzie in for a short-arm clothesline. McKenzie falls hard allowing Roscar to step away and recover.
PERCY: Man, Roscar is just raw power.
CAT: Yeah, and that usually means intelligence on par with raw vegetables.
PERCY: CAT!
They circle each other with McKenzie throwing some probing kicks at Roscar’s upper body. Then he suddenly shoots in and grabs Roscar and hits him with a suplex before Roscar can struggle free. The Virus quickly grabs the Greek again and hits another Suplex and pinning. Roscar immediately kicks out and McKenzie uses the arm Roscar pops up to spin him over and lock in an Arm Trap Crossface. He pulls back and Roscar growls out in pain.
PERCY: McKenzie is putting on the pressure here. He is definitely making a great impression.
CAT: I’m just waiting for Roscar to lose control.
PERCY: The Virus also has documented issues with his temper. This one could get ugly.
The-Ref closely watches Roscar for a tap but McKenzie releases the hold on his head but not on the arm. He keeps the arm pinned down to the mat and drops a knee into Roscar’s shoulder. Then he kips up and lands hard on the shoulder with his other knee. Roscar twists out of the grip in pain and McKenzie smiles. He picks Roscar up and holds him up by his arm putting all the weight on his shoulder. Roscar punches Mckenzie in the forehead and drops down to the ground to tackle McKenzie through the ropes and they both land violently on the outside.
PERCY: OUCH! There's a one way trip to 'No Mans Land'.
CAT: Hell Yeah! This is where shit gets good!
Roscar scrambles up first and kicks McKenzie down and stomps on him against the barricade as the fans cheer him on. He gets McKenzie up and picks him up to hit a Spinebuster right up against the edge of the ring apron. Then he grabs McKenzie and leads him into a One Handed Bulldog. McKenzie’s head hits the padding hard and he is dazed as Roscar appeals to the fans and Wilson Fisk claps with them.
CAT: Seems like it’s all going well for Fisk and Roscar.
PERCY: So far.
The-Ref manages to get them both in the ring and Roscar does not let up on his attack. He picks McKenzie up and throws him over with a Fallaway Slam. He then scrambles over and puts McKenzie in a Chinlock. McKenzie ignores The-Ref and tries to adjust his neck and head to the move isn’t doing too much damage but Roscar tightens his hold and pulls on his neck. Roscar then releases the hold and stomps on McKenzie a few times. He goes to the apron and waits for McKenzie to get up. When he does Roscar launches himself off the ropes to go for a Springboard Clothesline but McKenzie is able to catch him and throws him overhead with a Belly to Belly Suplex. He goes over and tries to lock Roscar’s arm in an armlock before he has a chance to recover.
Roscar reacts quickly and clasps his hands together. McKenzie pulls and then scrapes his boot over Roscar’s face again. This angers the Greek God and he adjusts his grip on his own wrists and uses McKenzies pull to get up. McKenzie is still trying to get Roscar’s arm so Roscar gets on his feet and slowly, with some struggle, he lifts McKensie up and slams him into the mat. Then he desperately gets on top of McKenzie and punches him repeatedly with one fist.
PERCY: Roscar got out of trouble there but he is favoring that arm and shoulder.
CAT: Yeah look at him being hurt while he punches Chris McKenzie in the face.
Roscar picks McKenzie up and whips him to the corner. He hits McKenzie with a few European Uppercuts then backs away and sprints into McKenzie with a Stinger Splash. He whips McKenzie to the opposite corner and treis to give him a another Stringer Splash but McKenzie gets out of the way and directs Roscar to hit the top turnbuckle shoulder first. He then grabs Roscar before he falls and hits him with his Nerve Damage, an Exploder Suplex into the corner. Roscar bounces off the ropes upside down and lands hard onto the mat. McKenzies crawls over for a pin.
1…
2….
Roscar gets his shoulder up and McKenzie promptly maneuvers himself to grab that arm and lock in the Armbar giving Roscar no chance to block it this time. He bends the arm back under his elbow to hyperextend Roscar’s shoulder more over his raised thigh. The-Ref lies on the mat to hear the submission but Roscar only screams out some unintelligible words and some intelligible profanity. He raises his arm about to tap with the fans and Fisk screaming at him to hold on. He clenches that hand into a fist and scooches over towards the ropes and places a good on them. The-Ref is still trying to listen for his submission so he misses this. Fisk gets on the apron and he notices, forcing McKenzie to break the hold.
PERCY: Fisk may want to be careful here, as McKenzie doesn't look to pleased with his interference.
CAT: That bald bastard better get out of here, cause the Virus looks like he's aiming to kill.
McKenzie immediately goes over to confront Fisk who wants nothing to do with him and drops back down to the floor. McKenzie turns around and laughs as Roscar is up and has one arm up in a half boxing stance. He taunts Roscar and gets closer. Roscar takes some swings at the Virus who dodges them until he fires back with a straight right of his own. Roscar is stunned but he steps in and catches McKenzie with a jab. They trade punches until McKenzie dodges back and bounces off the ropes to his Roscar with a Yakuza Kick. Roscar is stunned but instead of falling back he uses the ropes to propel himself and his McKenzie with a Rebound Clothesline. They both go down.
PERCY: They are going tit for tat here. It’s going to be a tough win for either of them.
CAT: Tit for what. Just say it plainly if you can’t say it cleanly, Percy.
They both show signs of life before The-Ref starts to count and slowly crawl towards the corner ropes. Roscar uses the ropes to get up first and pushes McKenzie into the turnbuckles then steps back to hit him with a Double Knee Facebreaker and McKenzie leans dazed against the corner. Roscar then calls for the end and punches McKenzie while calling out the sins.
ROSCAR: Lust!
ROSCAR: Gluttony!
ROSCAR: Greed!
ROSCAR: Wrath!
At that word McKenzie lowers his head and takes the next punch on the forehead. He hits Roscar with some Knife Edge Chops making sure to land on his shoulder then scoops Roscar up for another Nerve Damage! He quickly locks in his Lethal Injection cobra clutch with particular attention to squeezing the shoulder and Roscar struggles to break the hold and to stay awake. The pain becomes unbearable and he taps out before he also loses consciousness.
CAT: He tapped out!
PERCY: It’s back to the drawing board for Roscar as an impressive Chris McKenzie was the better man tonight. I can’t wait to see more of him.
CAT: Me either!
RICHARD ANDERSON: Your winner, Chris McKenzie!
McKenzie steps back, staring down at Roscar as he writhes on the canvas holding his shoulder. The fans boo him as he nudges the injured limb with his boot, causing Roscar to recoil in anguish. The-Ref interjects himself between Roscar and McKenzie, and warns him that if he doesn't move on he'll reverse the decision. A cocksure look comes over McKenzie's face as he dares the referee to try, but he slowly backs up to the ropes, and then slips between them to the floor. He doesn't pay the fans any mind as he makes his way towards the back, turning his back on the contents of the ring as if they are beneath him.
PERCY: Chris McKenzie reversed Roscar's finisher in mid move, which was awesome if not surprising, but there's no need for that kind of attitude. He wanted to hurt the man.
CAT: Well, Yeah, Percy. That's what you're supposed to do.
PERCY: You know what I mean, Cat. I have a feeling that McKenzie might just be looking to put some people on the shelf if he's able.
CAT: Oh, he looks more than able, but right now, we got a few late arrivals making their way into the building. Let's check it out.
Another beep is heard forcing that red line to move across the screen of the titantron. Yet no sooner than it moves across the screen the entire line goes completely flat. Which forces a long drawn out annoying beep to fill the speakers of the arena very much resembling a flatline. It isn’t long before the screen begins to flash a bio-hazard logo as the drawn out beeping sound is replaced by the sounds of “Monster” by Skillet. At the exact same time there is a blinding flash of lights with the arena lights coming right back on. By this point the fans have started to make the connection to what is going on which leads to them booing as loudly as they can to let their voices be heard.
The hard cam goes right up to the entranceway and in doing so the curtain can be seen being moved to the side. Only for the man known as “The Virus” to come stepping out from behind it in a slow steady pace. After a few steps towards the middle of the ramp Chris McKenzie stops and glares at the fans in attendance. Their boos get louder in just seeing him, but those boos don’t seem to do anything for them. McKenzie just glares with a slight smirk crossing his lips. Taking that brief moment in to take in the hatred he is receiving before beginning his journey down the ramp. Each step he makes is slow and steady seemingly taking his time.
RICHARD ANDERSON: Following contest is scheduled for one fall. Introducing at this time hailing from Chicago, Illinois and weighing in at two hundred and forty seven pounds. He is The Virus, CHHHRRRRIIIISSSS MCKKKKENNNNZZZIIIIEEEE!
Hearing his name be announced gets the man more hate from the crowd. Hate that McKenzie ignores with him approaching the ring. Turning slowly to take a couple of steps towards the ring steps. He then makes his way up the steps with the same steady motion and walks across the apron. At the middle of the ramp McKenzie stops and looks around at those at ringside booing him. This seems to bring that smirk of his out a little more while he lifts his leg over the middle rope and then ducks down to climb into the ring. Upon being in the ring McKenzie simply turns to the nearest corner and makes his way to the second rope.
For a couple of seconds McKenzie just stands there on the ropes getting a better view of the fans in attendance and hearing their boos being tossed in his direction. The man truly seems motivated by the hate with him soaking it in boo by boo. In that moment the Virus finds himself very slowly raising his hands up and over his head. Letting his head tilt back just a tad bit and coming off like he is encouraging them to continue to boo him. Something the fans do. They feed right into his actions getting a little louder. At this point they are so loud it is hard to hear yourself think. Suddenly his theme cuts off which leads to McKenzie lowering his arms and then stepping down. His focus now being on the match at hand.
Roscar enters the stadium as "Before I Forget" by Slipknot is heard around the arena. He is holding a beer can. Roscar stands still and he is looking at floor.
Go!
He opens wide his arms and does the metal horns and suddenly fireworks light the whole arena. He walks down the ramp slowly heading to the ring.
RICHARD ANDERSON: His opponent from Athens, Greece and weighing in at 214lbs. It is the Greek God, ROOOOOSSSSCAAARR!
He reaches ringside, and before entering the ring, he takes a sip, crushes the can with his hand and then, he throws it behind him. Then he gets off his t-shirt and then enters the ring.
PERCY: Wilson Fisk has accompanied Roscar to the ring speaking to him the whole time. I wonder what he said.
CAT: I would guess probably whispering sweet nothings into his ear.
PERCY: I think it has something to do with the match that Refano is about to start.
The bell rings and they tie up with neither man gaining any advantage. McKenzie breaks the hold with a small spin and has Roscar in a wrist lock. He flips him over and twists his arm around while Roscar is on the ground. Roscar slaps the mat and slowly tries to turn and get up only for McKenzie to pace a foot on his head and scrape the sole of his boots on the side of Roscar’s face. He lets go with a smirk. Roscar instantly gets up but the Virus strengthens the hold. Roscar leans back and awkwardly pulls McKenzie in for a short-arm clothesline. McKenzie falls hard allowing Roscar to step away and recover.
PERCY: Man, Roscar is just raw power.
CAT: Yeah, and that usually means intelligence on par with raw vegetables.
PERCY: CAT!
They circle each other with McKenzie throwing some probing kicks at Roscar’s upper body. Then he suddenly shoots in and grabs Roscar and hits him with a suplex before Roscar can struggle free. The Virus quickly grabs the Greek again and hits another Suplex and pinning. Roscar immediately kicks out and McKenzie uses the arm Roscar pops up to spin him over and lock in an Arm Trap Crossface. He pulls back and Roscar growls out in pain.
PERCY: McKenzie is putting on the pressure here. He is definitely making a great impression.
CAT: I’m just waiting for Roscar to lose control.
PERCY: The Virus also has documented issues with his temper. This one could get ugly.
The-Ref closely watches Roscar for a tap but McKenzie releases the hold on his head but not on the arm. He keeps the arm pinned down to the mat and drops a knee into Roscar’s shoulder. Then he kips up and lands hard on the shoulder with his other knee. Roscar twists out of the grip in pain and McKenzie smiles. He picks Roscar up and holds him up by his arm putting all the weight on his shoulder. Roscar punches Mckenzie in the forehead and drops down to the ground to tackle McKenzie through the ropes and they both land violently on the outside.
PERCY: OUCH! There's a one way trip to 'No Mans Land'.
CAT: Hell Yeah! This is where shit gets good!
Roscar scrambles up first and kicks McKenzie down and stomps on him against the barricade as the fans cheer him on. He gets McKenzie up and picks him up to hit a Spinebuster right up against the edge of the ring apron. Then he grabs McKenzie and leads him into a One Handed Bulldog. McKenzie’s head hits the padding hard and he is dazed as Roscar appeals to the fans and Wilson Fisk claps with them.
CAT: Seems like it’s all going well for Fisk and Roscar.
PERCY: So far.
The-Ref manages to get them both in the ring and Roscar does not let up on his attack. He picks McKenzie up and throws him over with a Fallaway Slam. He then scrambles over and puts McKenzie in a Chinlock. McKenzie ignores The-Ref and tries to adjust his neck and head to the move isn’t doing too much damage but Roscar tightens his hold and pulls on his neck. Roscar then releases the hold and stomps on McKenzie a few times. He goes to the apron and waits for McKenzie to get up. When he does Roscar launches himself off the ropes to go for a Springboard Clothesline but McKenzie is able to catch him and throws him overhead with a Belly to Belly Suplex. He goes over and tries to lock Roscar’s arm in an armlock before he has a chance to recover.
Roscar reacts quickly and clasps his hands together. McKenzie pulls and then scrapes his boot over Roscar’s face again. This angers the Greek God and he adjusts his grip on his own wrists and uses McKenzies pull to get up. McKenzie is still trying to get Roscar’s arm so Roscar gets on his feet and slowly, with some struggle, he lifts McKensie up and slams him into the mat. Then he desperately gets on top of McKenzie and punches him repeatedly with one fist.
PERCY: Roscar got out of trouble there but he is favoring that arm and shoulder.
CAT: Yeah look at him being hurt while he punches Chris McKenzie in the face.
Roscar picks McKenzie up and whips him to the corner. He hits McKenzie with a few European Uppercuts then backs away and sprints into McKenzie with a Stinger Splash. He whips McKenzie to the opposite corner and treis to give him a another Stringer Splash but McKenzie gets out of the way and directs Roscar to hit the top turnbuckle shoulder first. He then grabs Roscar before he falls and hits him with his Nerve Damage, an Exploder Suplex into the corner. Roscar bounces off the ropes upside down and lands hard onto the mat. McKenzies crawls over for a pin.
1…
2….
Roscar gets his shoulder up and McKenzie promptly maneuvers himself to grab that arm and lock in the Armbar giving Roscar no chance to block it this time. He bends the arm back under his elbow to hyperextend Roscar’s shoulder more over his raised thigh. The-Ref lies on the mat to hear the submission but Roscar only screams out some unintelligible words and some intelligible profanity. He raises his arm about to tap with the fans and Fisk screaming at him to hold on. He clenches that hand into a fist and scooches over towards the ropes and places a good on them. The-Ref is still trying to listen for his submission so he misses this. Fisk gets on the apron and he notices, forcing McKenzie to break the hold.
PERCY: Fisk may want to be careful here, as McKenzie doesn't look to pleased with his interference.
CAT: That bald bastard better get out of here, cause the Virus looks like he's aiming to kill.
McKenzie immediately goes over to confront Fisk who wants nothing to do with him and drops back down to the floor. McKenzie turns around and laughs as Roscar is up and has one arm up in a half boxing stance. He taunts Roscar and gets closer. Roscar takes some swings at the Virus who dodges them until he fires back with a straight right of his own. Roscar is stunned but he steps in and catches McKenzie with a jab. They trade punches until McKenzie dodges back and bounces off the ropes to his Roscar with a Yakuza Kick. Roscar is stunned but instead of falling back he uses the ropes to propel himself and his McKenzie with a Rebound Clothesline. They both go down.
PERCY: They are going tit for tat here. It’s going to be a tough win for either of them.
CAT: Tit for what. Just say it plainly if you can’t say it cleanly, Percy.
They both show signs of life before The-Ref starts to count and slowly crawl towards the corner ropes. Roscar uses the ropes to get up first and pushes McKenzie into the turnbuckles then steps back to hit him with a Double Knee Facebreaker and McKenzie leans dazed against the corner. Roscar then calls for the end and punches McKenzie while calling out the sins.
ROSCAR: Lust!
ROSCAR: Gluttony!
ROSCAR: Greed!
ROSCAR: Wrath!
At that word McKenzie lowers his head and takes the next punch on the forehead. He hits Roscar with some Knife Edge Chops making sure to land on his shoulder then scoops Roscar up for another Nerve Damage! He quickly locks in his Lethal Injection cobra clutch with particular attention to squeezing the shoulder and Roscar struggles to break the hold and to stay awake. The pain becomes unbearable and he taps out before he also loses consciousness.
CAT: He tapped out!
PERCY: It’s back to the drawing board for Roscar as an impressive Chris McKenzie was the better man tonight. I can’t wait to see more of him.
CAT: Me either!
RICHARD ANDERSON: Your winner, Chris McKenzie!
McKenzie steps back, staring down at Roscar as he writhes on the canvas holding his shoulder. The fans boo him as he nudges the injured limb with his boot, causing Roscar to recoil in anguish. The-Ref interjects himself between Roscar and McKenzie, and warns him that if he doesn't move on he'll reverse the decision. A cocksure look comes over McKenzie's face as he dares the referee to try, but he slowly backs up to the ropes, and then slips between them to the floor. He doesn't pay the fans any mind as he makes his way towards the back, turning his back on the contents of the ring as if they are beneath him.
PERCY: Chris McKenzie reversed Roscar's finisher in mid move, which was awesome if not surprising, but there's no need for that kind of attitude. He wanted to hurt the man.
CAT: Well, Yeah, Percy. That's what you're supposed to do.
PERCY: You know what I mean, Cat. I have a feeling that McKenzie might just be looking to put some people on the shelf if he's able.
CAT: Oh, he looks more than able, but right now, we got a few late arrivals making their way into the building. Let's check it out.
"...and that's why I will always prefer Diet Coke to Coke Zero. But an interesting thing happens when you apply the same test to Pepsi..."
Johnny Raike and "Pound Cake" Daughton come around the corner, gear bags rolling behind them. Raike seems lost in thought as Cake continues to debate the relative merits of the diet colas. He fumbles the key to the locker room just as a brunette women brushes past. She stops before turning to look back, and Johnny Raike catches a look
JOHNNY RAIKE: Heaven...
POUND CAKE: What! Speak up a bit. After all, I'm taller than you.
Raike seems not to hear as he gets the door open and absent mindedly tosses his bag inside.
JOHNNY RAIKE: Hey, stay here a moment, make sure no one messes with the room. I gotta... check something out.
Cake frowns.
POUND CAKE: You sure you want me to stay here? Thought you wanted someone to watch your back. And you have a match to get ready for, you aren't even in your skirt yet.
Raike waves her concerns away.
JOHNNY RAIKE: It'll be fine, this won't take a minute. I just need something to hit her with.
Raike scoops up an ashtray from the coffee table, a heavy glass thing, and smirks.
JOHNNY RAIKE: Yes. This will do nicely. Don't worry Cake, just watch the stuff. And as always, if I don't come back, avenge my death.
Before more concerns can be raised, Raike is out the door and following the last seen paths of a women named Heaven. The scene cuts to commercial.
Johnny Raike and "Pound Cake" Daughton come around the corner, gear bags rolling behind them. Raike seems lost in thought as Cake continues to debate the relative merits of the diet colas. He fumbles the key to the locker room just as a brunette women brushes past. She stops before turning to look back, and Johnny Raike catches a look
JOHNNY RAIKE: Heaven...
POUND CAKE: What! Speak up a bit. After all, I'm taller than you.
Raike seems not to hear as he gets the door open and absent mindedly tosses his bag inside.
JOHNNY RAIKE: Hey, stay here a moment, make sure no one messes with the room. I gotta... check something out.
Cake frowns.
POUND CAKE: You sure you want me to stay here? Thought you wanted someone to watch your back. And you have a match to get ready for, you aren't even in your skirt yet.
Raike waves her concerns away.
JOHNNY RAIKE: It'll be fine, this won't take a minute. I just need something to hit her with.
Raike scoops up an ashtray from the coffee table, a heavy glass thing, and smirks.
JOHNNY RAIKE: Yes. This will do nicely. Don't worry Cake, just watch the stuff. And as always, if I don't come back, avenge my death.
Before more concerns can be raised, Raike is out the door and following the last seen paths of a women named Heaven. The scene cuts to commercial.
Singles Match
Leon Cashmere versus Spencer Thompson
PERCY: Welcome back everyone, as we're set for our next match. Leon Cashmere and Spencer Thompson are both looking to do some business here tonight, and both need a win just as badly as the other.
CAT: That's right. It's time to find out who's going to shine, put up or shut up time.
The announce team is cut off suddenly by static coming from the Mega Screen above the stage, and suddenly a camera feed from somewhere backstage. The viewer focuses on a locker room door that reads, 'Spencer Thompson', and the door is slightly ajar. The camera pushes on into the dark room, and when the light switch is flicked, there is Thompson laying face down on the floor. She is mostly dressed for her match, but it appears that she was in the midst of pulling her boots on when someone must have attacked her.
PERCY: Good Lord! What's going on back there!
CAT: I don't know, but it looks like someone clobbered the bitch!
The camera looks around the room for an intruder, but finds none, instead coming to focus on Spencer's gear bag. A note sits just on the edge, and the camera man picks up the folded paper, and opens it for the camera to see.
PERCY: That's the same type of note that Hunter Storms left for Evie Girard just before his match on ADDICTION#2! But why go after Spencer Thompson?
CAT: We all know that someone has paid him off, Percy. They must have felt that Spencer Thompson was some sort of threat.
*CLANG*
PERCY: What the hell?
The loud noise of metal striking something equally solid sounds out in the hallway just past the door. The cameraman slips up to the edge of the door, and pushes his camera out into the hall. The focus zooms in on another door just across from the one he's standing in that is also slightly ajar that reads 'Leon Cashmere'.
CAT: Uh-oh!
PERCY: Uh-oh is right!
A final thud can be heard, as if something heavy were hitting the ground, and the door suddenly bursts open revealing Hunter Storms stepping out into the hallway. He is dressed in his wrestling gear, and the Crank Championship sits firmly around his waist. Just past his feet in the interior of the room, the camera spies Leon Cashmere out cold in the floor much like Spencer Thompson had been. Hunter notices the camera, and his ice cold stare penetrates the lens. Without so much as a hint of emotion, he crumples up piece of paper into a ball, and then tosses it into the room onto Leon Cashmere. With a shrug, he walks past the cameraman who takes a step back as the scene fades out on the Mega Tron.
PERCY: This is insanity! Hunter Storms just deprived us of this match!
CAT: That dude is seriously disturbing, man. Did you see those eyes. No remorse. No hesitation. Just brutal execution. I...I think I'm in love.
PERCY: Can you be serious, Cat? This can not stand.
CAT: Oh, lighten up Percy. So what, we didn't get a match. This all just adds to the mystery that is Hunter Storms, and I for one like a good mystery.
PERCY: Well, this is one hell of a way to segue into our next match.
CAT: That's right. It's time to find out who's going to shine, put up or shut up time.
The announce team is cut off suddenly by static coming from the Mega Screen above the stage, and suddenly a camera feed from somewhere backstage. The viewer focuses on a locker room door that reads, 'Spencer Thompson', and the door is slightly ajar. The camera pushes on into the dark room, and when the light switch is flicked, there is Thompson laying face down on the floor. She is mostly dressed for her match, but it appears that she was in the midst of pulling her boots on when someone must have attacked her.
PERCY: Good Lord! What's going on back there!
CAT: I don't know, but it looks like someone clobbered the bitch!
The camera looks around the room for an intruder, but finds none, instead coming to focus on Spencer's gear bag. A note sits just on the edge, and the camera man picks up the folded paper, and opens it for the camera to see.
Dear Spencer,
Consider this a warning....
Hunter
XoXo
CAT: We all know that someone has paid him off, Percy. They must have felt that Spencer Thompson was some sort of threat.
*CLANG*
PERCY: What the hell?
The loud noise of metal striking something equally solid sounds out in the hallway just past the door. The cameraman slips up to the edge of the door, and pushes his camera out into the hall. The focus zooms in on another door just across from the one he's standing in that is also slightly ajar that reads 'Leon Cashmere'.
CAT: Uh-oh!
PERCY: Uh-oh is right!
A final thud can be heard, as if something heavy were hitting the ground, and the door suddenly bursts open revealing Hunter Storms stepping out into the hallway. He is dressed in his wrestling gear, and the Crank Championship sits firmly around his waist. Just past his feet in the interior of the room, the camera spies Leon Cashmere out cold in the floor much like Spencer Thompson had been. Hunter notices the camera, and his ice cold stare penetrates the lens. Without so much as a hint of emotion, he crumples up piece of paper into a ball, and then tosses it into the room onto Leon Cashmere. With a shrug, he walks past the cameraman who takes a step back as the scene fades out on the Mega Tron.
PERCY: This is insanity! Hunter Storms just deprived us of this match!
CAT: That dude is seriously disturbing, man. Did you see those eyes. No remorse. No hesitation. Just brutal execution. I...I think I'm in love.
PERCY: Can you be serious, Cat? This can not stand.
CAT: Oh, lighten up Percy. So what, we didn't get a match. This all just adds to the mystery that is Hunter Storms, and I for one like a good mystery.
PERCY: Well, this is one hell of a way to segue into our next match.
Singles Match
Deus versus Johnny Raike
PERCY: Okay fight fans, if you’re just joining us on our bi-weekly Wicked Live! Brand, you’re in for a main event-worthy match between former Two-time Titans of the Midway Champion himself, the Thigh High Thriller Johnny Raike, and the enigmatic broken God—
CAT: Deus. I said it right this time, didn’t I, Percy?
PERCY: Indeed you did, Cat. Obviously there’s some heat brewing between these two.
CAT: I still don’t think Raike should have blatantly called Deus out as he did, but, here we are and did you SEE Johnny earlier?
PERCY: Definitely not as together as we’re used to, but I think Raike is merely absolving himself of some demons.
CAT: Demons that Deus triggered in Raike, though!
PERCY: Raike has made it clear that Deus is no monster, Cat. Any frustrations Johnny Raike is experiencing is on account of not properly dealing with a situation like Deus, and, well, now he’s going to deal with it here tonight.
The opening dialogue of 'Barbie Girl' cracks onto the speakers. and inside the ring Richard Anderson presses his earpiece in tight to hear some information that creases his brow.
CAT: Barbie Girl?! By Aqua? I haven’t heard this in time, that’s not Raike’s music, though! What’s going on, Percy?
PERCY: I surely don’t know. Johnny Raike is as colorful as they come, perhaps, for one night only, he’s switched entrance themes….
The audience looks to the entrance to await the Hedonistic Hellcat. After the dialogue between “Barbie” and “Ken”, the recently signed figure of Pound Cake steps from the curtain into a double spot light.
RICHARD ANDERSON: Ladies and Gentleman at this time a substitution has been made. Making her way to the ring in place of Johnny Raike, hailing from Tupelo, Mississippi… introducing… POUNDDDDD CAKKKKKKKKE!
CAT: Pound Cake?! What the hell…?
Pound Cake gives a big 'whoop' as she strikes a power pose, and begins her power stride to the ring, giving high fives along the way.. Lorie pauses at the top of the ring stairs and gives a 'Let me hear ya, Purity, Louisiana!!'
PERCY: Definitely an odd development, Cat. But on the otherside of all the questions surrounding this substitution, we officially get our first look at one of Johnny’s personal discoveries in “Pound Cake”!
Pound Cake enters the ring and tests the ropes, waiting in her corner for the bell.
CAT: Don’t you want to at least find out where Johnny Raike is, Percy?
PERCY: Sure I do, Cat. But at the moment, we’re going to see what a fresh new talent can do in the ring against rather dangerous individual.
The arena goes dark. The synth strikes of “Child of the West” by Roni Size featuring B-Real kicks onto the speaker system while timed strobes of red light streak out into the crowd along with the music.
RICHARD ARMSTRONG: And… introducing from Parts Unknown…
With the pulses happening, it’s easy to see there’s no one standing at the top of the ramp. This goes on into the chorus of the song, the lights rising to reveal Deus standing nonchalantly in its ring corner. From across the ring, Pound Cake glares in the masked figure’s direction, looking ready to pound the enigma. Sufficiently disturbed, Richard finishes sheepishly…
RICHARD ARMSTRONG: …Deus….
PERCY: The ever difficult to quantify figure of Deus is in the ring, and Pound Cake looks literally ready to pulverize him.
CAT: Raike thinks that’s a her, Percy.
PERCY: That’s a very solid possibility, Cat, considering the past precedent. The height is definitely consistent with that hypothesis.
CAT: Regardless, Raike’s Pound Cake’s gonna do his job for him and then some, I’ll bet! Squash that little cockroach like a bug!!!
DING! DING!
There’s not even so much as a moment’s notice before Pound Cake inexplicably charges against the ring and absolutely steam rolls over Deus with a flattening shoulder block!
CAT: That one had some stank on it!
PERCY: Definitely! Pound Cake is wasting no time taking the fight right to Deus!
With the masked figure down and before Deus can rise, Pound Cake runs up the turnbuckles and whips into the air landing a squashing moonsault onto the much smaller Deus!!!
CAT: HAHAH! VIGILANTE JUSTICE, PERCY!
With pure adrenaline and energy, Pound Cake wastes no time shifting her position on top of Deus and punching furiously down into the upperbody of the writhing Deus who’s obviously taken off guard by Pound Cake’s agility and unexpected speed!
PERCY: Pound Cake is absolutely laying into Deus right now, possibly, just like Cat said, doling out Johnny’s retribution for him.
CAT: Isn’t it great? It’s just a sign of Johnny’s wisdom, Percy. Why do the dirty work when he can send his Mexican equivalent to do all the dirty walk while he smokes a cigarette and watches from the back!
Pound Cake’s furious assault is capped off with a moment to catch her breath, straddling Deus, she’s caught off guard when Deus’ gloved hands grip the back of Lorie Beth’s head and pulls her forward viciously into a metallic clanging headbutt right off the mask forcing Pound Cake to drop backwards clutching her face in obvious pain.
CAT: Awwww….
PERCY: That mask is a lethal weapon! Did Theo Refano see it?
CAT: It’s Deus’ face, Percy. Everyone saw that happen, what are you going to do, make Deus remove his or her face in the interest of a fair fight?
PERCY: It would definitely eliminate some of the mystery, wouldn’t it?
CAT: What mystery, boyo? That’s Deus. Deus just headbutted Pound Cake. Problem solved. Want a cookie?
Pound Cake is on her knees clutching her nose as Deus rises, glaring at Pound Cake as if affronted by her offense, then Deus charges running a lifting knee right into Pound Cake’s chin that drops her onto her back. And then Deus lays a violently heavy soccer kick right into Pound Cake’s head that shifts her onto her side in pain!
PERCY: Vicious attacks by Deus, and I’m concerned that Johnny Raike may have made a mistake sending Pound Cake in there to square off against someone as lethal as that masked lunatic.
Deus forcibly grips Pound Cake by the hair and hauls her up only to be surprised by a flawless fireman’s carry that dumps Deus onto the canvas and gives Pound Cake a chance to rise off the canvas and recover her breath, clutching her nose.
CAT: Concerns noted, and dismissed, Percy. You DO realize that woman’s got heaps of ring experience, right Percy? You… HAVE done your research haven’t you?
PERCY: Har har, Cat.
CAT: Point is: don’t be fooled by the mask and creepy imagery, Percival, Deus is the one you should be concerned about in that ring right now.
Pound Cake grips the ropes, rolls her neck, checks her nose for blood, which there is none than angrily moves back into the fight as Deus is climbing to its feet. As Deus steps in, Pound Cake drops into a monkey flip that upends Deus over on its back in the canvas, as Pound Cake quickly kick flips up to her feet, greeted by a welcome pop from the crowd. Pound Cake momentarily welcomes it before moving to Deus and hefting the enigma up to a stand and promptly body slamming Deus right back down to the canvas, and once down, Pound Cake unleashes a series of soccer kicks of her own into Deus’ side that has the masked figure squirming to get away, and promptly finds a way out under the bottom ropes to the outside!
PERCY: Deus avoiding Pound Cake’s attacks there rather deftly.
CAT: Cowardly, you mean. After it’s all said and done, just like Johnny Raike said, Deus is, at best, a mid-rate talent with nothing but theatrics to make her, it, or him, or whatever relevant!
As Deus regroups on the outside, Pound Cake has a made several steps backward and hit a running head start and LEAPED over the ropes to a just turning around Deus and dropped a sudden cross-body block onto Deus that topples the masked figure to the outside amidst a raucous pop from the crowd!
PERCY: GOOD LORD! POUND CAKE CAN SURE FLY!
CAT: You’re surprised?! Am I the only one who has faith in Johnny Raike’s selection process? He went to Mexico, he found a talent, he brought that talent back to Purity, Louisiana, and now that talent is putting down this so-called monster before it can become anything substantial here in PAW!
1!
On the outside, the landing took as much out of Pound Cake as it did Deus, but slowly, after a moment of ensuring nothing’s broken or twisted, Pound Cake rises to a knee, acknowledging the approval of the nearby fans before dragging both she and Deus up to a stand.
2!
Before she can progress, Deus FLOORS her with a sudden DDT right down into the concrete!
PERCY: Painful reversal there!
3!
Deus struggles to stand, but finally makes it to its feet, grabbing Pound Cake by the arm and thrusting her up to her feet and giving very little prep time before whipping Pound Cake at the ring steps where she collides awfully across the metal and spills in a mess of steel steps onto the outside.
CAT: OUCH! Right into the ring steps!
PERCY: Definitely not a position Pound Cake expected to be in 2 minutes ago.
4!
Deus leans against the ring apron recovering as Pound Cake is down and seemingly out several feet away.
5!
PERCY: So far, fight fans, Deus has incrementally turned this into a legal hardcore match, utilizing the environment against his opponent.
CAT: ‘Her’. Her opponent, Percy.
PERCY: At this point does it really matter what’s behind that mask, Caitlyn?
Deus, sufficiently recovered, stalks around to the prone Pound Cake and grips her hair, aiming to heft her to a stand in a headlock and suddenly PLANTS Pound Cake down onto the ring steps in a bulldog!
6!
PERCY: Absolutely devastating! Deus is visciously capitalizing on every possible questionably legal implement here at ringside to devastate Pound Cake.
CAT: As much as a I hate it, Percy, it’s a sound strategy.
Deus stands and glares down at Pound Cake who struggles to gather her bearings.
7!
PERCY: Deus may take this to a count out!
CAT: Would that surprise you at this point, Percy?
Deus lets Pound Cake wallow momentarily before gripping her hair once more to drag her to her feet only to be surprised by a hard-struck gut punch that doubles Deus over.
8!
Pound Cake is clearly sore as she staggers to a stand and grips Deus and rolls the masked enigma into the ring to break the count. The energy expenditure staggers Cake towards the apron as she clutches her knee, her face swollen and red with a hint of a bloody lip forming after the steel steps shot and glares in the ring at the slowly rising figure of Deus before sliding in to be met by sudden downward stomps from Deus to keep Pound Cake from rising! Pound Cake struggles to shrug off the blows, making it to one knee and landing a strike of her own only to be halted by a painful-looking elbow strike to the back of the head from Deus.
PERCY: Those strikes from Deus look to pack a lot of power.
Deus takes a step back and sets up a roundhouse kick as Pound Cake is winded and wounded on one knee.
CAT: Enough power to suspend Pound Cake’s movement momentarily, but she’s still going. Raike didn’t pick a pushover, check out the brass balls on this chick rolling with every attempt at devastation Deus has attempted!
Deus spins into the kick only to be surprised by a sudden charge by Pound Cake before Deus can strike. Pound Cake slams into Deus’ back with enough force to lift the masked figure off its feet and down in a reverse spine buster!
PERCY: Punishing reversal by Pound Cake!
CAT: And she’s not done! She’s gotta make Johnny Raike proud!!
Pound Cake surely isn’t done. She forces Deus to a stand and sets the masked enigma running into the ropes. On the return Deus is met with a solid big boot right to the mask/face that downs Deus! On wobbly knees, Pound Cake drops an elbow into Deus and quickly hooks the leg for a cover!
1…
2..
PERCY: THR-KICKOUT!! Near fall by Pound Cake!
CAT: She was hoping for one, at least.
Pound Cake is noticeably flustered and in pain as she grits her teeth, grips Deus and hefts the figure up and SLAMS Deus back down into the ring with a sidewalk slam!
PERCY: And another cover by Pound Cake!
1…
2…
CAT: Another KICKOUT at three!!
PERCY: And another impressive near-fall! She might be new to PAW, but she’s making an impact here tonight against a Deus that is having trouble entirely solving Raike’s… what would you call her… apprentice?
CAT: Pupil?
PERCY: Stand-in?
CAT: If nothing else, I think it’s more appropriate at this point to call Pound Cake at least on par with Deus, that’s for sure!
Pound Cake slaps the canvas with gritted teeth and slides to her feet, still favoring her legs after being forced to charge into the ring steps, but manages to stand, forcing Deus up and irish whips Deus into the corner with full velocity!
PERCY: Powerful is Pound Cake!
CAT: Huzzah!
With some steps backward, Pound Cake charges at the corner and the propped up Deus and prepares a running splash only to find no one home as Deus slips out of the way in a split second before Pound Cake charges front first painfully into the turnbuckle!
PERCY: Damn! Pound Cake's consistently had Deus’ number, but consistently finds herself on receiving end of some bad luck when she aims to capitalize!
Deus staggers from the corner before recovering, glaring at Pound Cake and gripping her by the neck and the back of her skirt, doubling her over and turning her around before forcibly RAMMING Pound Cake’s shoulder in between the turnbuckles right into the corner post!
PERCY: Deus has displayed a canny use of natural implements to do all the damage here, and Pound Cake is definitely in a bad way, doubled over in the corner like that.
Deus takes a step back and thrusts a hard-hitting kick right into the presented Pound Cake behind forcing her to butt painfully shoulder-first into the corner. Then repeats! The kicks coming fast and hard before Deus reorients Pound Cake once more with a dizzying spin before Irish whipping Pound Cake into the opposite corner where Pound Cake smashes into the turnbuckle with force and bounces out in stunned pain. Deus wastes no time charging in at the stunned Pound Cake and slamming a sudden stop elbow right into Pound Cake’s spine that drops Cake to a knee in clear and obvious pain!
PERCY: While not overly showy, every single strike Deus has landed has done damage, Cat.
With Pound Cake down, Deus whips around into a spinning heel kick that strikes hard to the back of Pound Cake’s head and drops her to the canvas!
CAT: Devastating kick with, what are those steel toed boots, or something?!
PERCY: Deus has come prepared it would seem, Cat. I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if that entire outfit was in some way enhanced.
Deus viscerally kicks Pound Cake in the side numerous times to force her onto her back before straddling the prone woman and laying into her with vicious blows to the face.
CAT: And yet, Deus has failed to illustrate even the slightest hint of wrestling knowledge by comparison to a woman who came out here and beat that masked freak from pillar to post, what the hell are we even hyping here, Percy?
PERCY: A rather brutal street fighter named Deus it would seem…
Deus’ blows come hard and fast to Pound Cake who’s nose is bloodied, her lip bloodied and looking close to unconsciousness. Finally, after harried blows that rock Pound Cake, Deus rolls lazily into a half-assed cover. Theo Refano reluctantly slides in to count.
1….
2….
3!
PERCY: Despicable.
RICHARD ANDERSON: Here is your winner by pinfall... DEUS!
CAT: You got that right. Deus didn’t win that match. Deus turned a singles standard match into an impromptu hardcore match and then never let up.
PERCY: Like it or not, Deus responded to Pound Cake’s tremendous talent with… I guess tactics that got results.
Deus stumbles out of the ring to the floor, heading towards the back. The Enigma reaches the midway point when the fateful sound of ‘Stranglehold’ by Nugent hits over the PA System.
PERCY: OH…
CAT: SHIT….
Deus turns around just in time to see Press and Flaming Youth push past the curtain, power walking in the enigmas direction. The fans go nuts as Press picks up speed, slamming into the masked phenom with a vicious clothesline that sends Deus down hard to the steel flooring. From there, The BombTrax do what they do, and proceed to lay the boots to the Enigma on par with a street mugging.
PERCY: Good Lord, The BombTrax are beating the holy hell out of Deus!
CAT: Well, it’s not like that bastard didn’t ask for it. Deus called out The BombTrax, the entity claiming it wanted them to finish the job this time, and I’ll be damned if it doesn’t look like they are going to do it!
The duo cease their stomping, having kicked Deus all the way down to the bottom of the ramp. Press directs traffic, Youth snatch Deus up off the floor and tossing it inside the ring, while Press moves over to the steel steps and hefts the top portion clear off the base. Cake makes her way to the back, watching all of this in awe as the fans cheer on the promise of violence.
PERCY: This is not looking good….We need to get someone out here to stop this.
CAT: Sure, Percy. Why don’t you get in the ring and give them a good talking to.
Percy casts a pleading look at Cat, while Youth positions the steel steps in the center of the ring, the Big Man coming in over the top rope. Press reaches down and jerks Deus from the canvas, placing the enigma’s head between his legs before hoisting him/her up high into the air to sit on his chest. Youth quickly bounds to the ring apron, then springs up to the top with ease. They hold those poses for just a moment, a hush falling over the crowd as they watch in anticipation. Then, as if in slow motion, Youth springs from his perch, spinning in midair to catch Deus right in the face with a spin wheel kick, while at the same time Press thunders the enigma down across the steel steps. The impact is tremendous, as Deus writhes across the steel in clear agony.
PERCY: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! THEY MAY HAVE JUST BROKEN DEUS IN HALF!
CAT: Well, if that didn’t do it, this will…
Press, obviously not satisfied, jerks the crumpled form of Deus off the steel steps, and puts the enigma in powerbomb position again. He easily lifts the masked phenom up onto his chest, and he turns with his cargo towards the ropes facing the steel ramp way. The buzz is mind numbing through the arena as he rushes forwards, stopping at the last second by use of the ropes, while his victim soars through the air. Deus impacts unnaturally, the upper portion and back of the head slamming against the steel Ramp, while the lower back and legs crack against the concrete floor.
PERCY: THAT SAME MOVE PUT CROSS RECOBA ON THE SHELF FOR NEARLY SEVEN MONTHS! Someone needs to get out here and stop this. Please. These two are going to kill him.
CAT: Or her.
PERCY: At this point, I don’t even care, Cat. There’s a human being inside of that mask, and it is being decimated by The BombTrax!
Press drops down out of the ring as Youth leans against the ropes watching, not really sure what more they could do to the enigma. Press looks around for a moment, gears obviously turning, and he makes a request of a fan at ringside. The fan, wearing a #TheAmbulanceBrokeHisFall t-shirt, happily obliges by handing Press his seat. The big man takes the steel chair, and comes to stand over Deus, who has not moved, when security comes rushing down the ramp.
PERCY: Thank God! This has gone too far.
Press eyes the security that’s surrounded him, which makes him appear to be even more dangerous as he makes no indication he’s willing to relinquish his weapon. Youth joins him on the outside, and tries to ease the big man with a few words of caution, and that’s when he strikes. The steel chair comes high into the air, and he drives it down into the face of Deus, crushing the skull between the chair and the steel ramp. He manages to nail the enigma two more times before security descends upon him, engulfing him in a hulking mass of bodies. Youth manages to get away from the fray, and he skips back up to the top of the stage as EMT’s join the fray, quickly checking on Deus who has not moved.
PERCY: That…..I….I don’t have any words for it.
CAT: Awesome, maybe?
PERCY: You can’t be serious?
CAT: People, myself included, have run their mouth about Press and his championship reign, but he just put an exclamation point on what it is he’s willing to do to protect his business. Deus called The BombTrax out, and they just answered…big time. If I were the other participants in that Seven Deadly Sins match, I’d take note of what just happened her. These Mother Fucker’s are bad men, who just happen to get cheered.
PERCY: Even now, Deus is refusing to allow the EMT’s to remove it’s mask, but they are thankfully carting the enigma to the back as we speak. The BombTrax are now in the ring with a microphone, while security stands by on the outside.
Press stalks around the ring like a caged animal, adrenaline still pumping between his ears. He brings the microphone up to his lips as he finally comes to the center of the ring.
PRESS: You called us out, and we delivered. I know that was just one of many behind the mask, but that’s one less piece of shit that can claim themselves as Deus! You like to talk about your Legions, well bring them on. I’ve had to listen to Cross Recoba cry like a bitch. I’ve had to listen to Calvin Harris cry like a bitch. Before that it was CJ O’Donnell, Hungry Jack, and Stevie Harris. I’m finished listening to you cunts bitch and cry just because when you step into the ring with the likes of us you can’t get the job done.
Press pauses, taking a deep breath to steady himself before he continues.
PRESS: At Seven Deadly Sins my back’s already against a wall, and the likelihood of me walking out still carrying the PAW Heavyweight Championships is negligible, but until then, I can do one last thing to make sure that the only people I have to deal with is the six other competitors in the ring. So Deus, I know you’re back there listening. I know that wasn’t your only incarnation. End this shit now! You want an answer to your challenge, then the answer is yes, and the next time WICKED is on the air you and I are going to settle this once and for all.
Press tosses the mic to the ring tech, and then turns to stare out at the crowd who continue their chants and ovations. Youth claps, and then exits the ring, soon followed by the big man. The two of them make their way to the top of the stage before turning to make one final pose for the crowd before disappearing behind the curtain. The scene fades to commercial.
CAT: Deus. I said it right this time, didn’t I, Percy?
PERCY: Indeed you did, Cat. Obviously there’s some heat brewing between these two.
CAT: I still don’t think Raike should have blatantly called Deus out as he did, but, here we are and did you SEE Johnny earlier?
PERCY: Definitely not as together as we’re used to, but I think Raike is merely absolving himself of some demons.
CAT: Demons that Deus triggered in Raike, though!
PERCY: Raike has made it clear that Deus is no monster, Cat. Any frustrations Johnny Raike is experiencing is on account of not properly dealing with a situation like Deus, and, well, now he’s going to deal with it here tonight.
The opening dialogue of 'Barbie Girl' cracks onto the speakers. and inside the ring Richard Anderson presses his earpiece in tight to hear some information that creases his brow.
CAT: Barbie Girl?! By Aqua? I haven’t heard this in time, that’s not Raike’s music, though! What’s going on, Percy?
PERCY: I surely don’t know. Johnny Raike is as colorful as they come, perhaps, for one night only, he’s switched entrance themes….
The audience looks to the entrance to await the Hedonistic Hellcat. After the dialogue between “Barbie” and “Ken”, the recently signed figure of Pound Cake steps from the curtain into a double spot light.
RICHARD ANDERSON: Ladies and Gentleman at this time a substitution has been made. Making her way to the ring in place of Johnny Raike, hailing from Tupelo, Mississippi… introducing… POUNDDDDD CAKKKKKKKKE!
CAT: Pound Cake?! What the hell…?
Pound Cake gives a big 'whoop' as she strikes a power pose, and begins her power stride to the ring, giving high fives along the way.. Lorie pauses at the top of the ring stairs and gives a 'Let me hear ya, Purity, Louisiana!!'
PERCY: Definitely an odd development, Cat. But on the otherside of all the questions surrounding this substitution, we officially get our first look at one of Johnny’s personal discoveries in “Pound Cake”!
Pound Cake enters the ring and tests the ropes, waiting in her corner for the bell.
CAT: Don’t you want to at least find out where Johnny Raike is, Percy?
PERCY: Sure I do, Cat. But at the moment, we’re going to see what a fresh new talent can do in the ring against rather dangerous individual.
The arena goes dark. The synth strikes of “Child of the West” by Roni Size featuring B-Real kicks onto the speaker system while timed strobes of red light streak out into the crowd along with the music.
RICHARD ARMSTRONG: And… introducing from Parts Unknown…
With the pulses happening, it’s easy to see there’s no one standing at the top of the ramp. This goes on into the chorus of the song, the lights rising to reveal Deus standing nonchalantly in its ring corner. From across the ring, Pound Cake glares in the masked figure’s direction, looking ready to pound the enigma. Sufficiently disturbed, Richard finishes sheepishly…
RICHARD ARMSTRONG: …Deus….
PERCY: The ever difficult to quantify figure of Deus is in the ring, and Pound Cake looks literally ready to pulverize him.
CAT: Raike thinks that’s a her, Percy.
PERCY: That’s a very solid possibility, Cat, considering the past precedent. The height is definitely consistent with that hypothesis.
CAT: Regardless, Raike’s Pound Cake’s gonna do his job for him and then some, I’ll bet! Squash that little cockroach like a bug!!!
DING! DING!
There’s not even so much as a moment’s notice before Pound Cake inexplicably charges against the ring and absolutely steam rolls over Deus with a flattening shoulder block!
CAT: That one had some stank on it!
PERCY: Definitely! Pound Cake is wasting no time taking the fight right to Deus!
With the masked figure down and before Deus can rise, Pound Cake runs up the turnbuckles and whips into the air landing a squashing moonsault onto the much smaller Deus!!!
CAT: HAHAH! VIGILANTE JUSTICE, PERCY!
With pure adrenaline and energy, Pound Cake wastes no time shifting her position on top of Deus and punching furiously down into the upperbody of the writhing Deus who’s obviously taken off guard by Pound Cake’s agility and unexpected speed!
PERCY: Pound Cake is absolutely laying into Deus right now, possibly, just like Cat said, doling out Johnny’s retribution for him.
CAT: Isn’t it great? It’s just a sign of Johnny’s wisdom, Percy. Why do the dirty work when he can send his Mexican equivalent to do all the dirty walk while he smokes a cigarette and watches from the back!
Pound Cake’s furious assault is capped off with a moment to catch her breath, straddling Deus, she’s caught off guard when Deus’ gloved hands grip the back of Lorie Beth’s head and pulls her forward viciously into a metallic clanging headbutt right off the mask forcing Pound Cake to drop backwards clutching her face in obvious pain.
CAT: Awwww….
PERCY: That mask is a lethal weapon! Did Theo Refano see it?
CAT: It’s Deus’ face, Percy. Everyone saw that happen, what are you going to do, make Deus remove his or her face in the interest of a fair fight?
PERCY: It would definitely eliminate some of the mystery, wouldn’t it?
CAT: What mystery, boyo? That’s Deus. Deus just headbutted Pound Cake. Problem solved. Want a cookie?
Pound Cake is on her knees clutching her nose as Deus rises, glaring at Pound Cake as if affronted by her offense, then Deus charges running a lifting knee right into Pound Cake’s chin that drops her onto her back. And then Deus lays a violently heavy soccer kick right into Pound Cake’s head that shifts her onto her side in pain!
PERCY: Vicious attacks by Deus, and I’m concerned that Johnny Raike may have made a mistake sending Pound Cake in there to square off against someone as lethal as that masked lunatic.
Deus forcibly grips Pound Cake by the hair and hauls her up only to be surprised by a flawless fireman’s carry that dumps Deus onto the canvas and gives Pound Cake a chance to rise off the canvas and recover her breath, clutching her nose.
CAT: Concerns noted, and dismissed, Percy. You DO realize that woman’s got heaps of ring experience, right Percy? You… HAVE done your research haven’t you?
PERCY: Har har, Cat.
CAT: Point is: don’t be fooled by the mask and creepy imagery, Percival, Deus is the one you should be concerned about in that ring right now.
Pound Cake grips the ropes, rolls her neck, checks her nose for blood, which there is none than angrily moves back into the fight as Deus is climbing to its feet. As Deus steps in, Pound Cake drops into a monkey flip that upends Deus over on its back in the canvas, as Pound Cake quickly kick flips up to her feet, greeted by a welcome pop from the crowd. Pound Cake momentarily welcomes it before moving to Deus and hefting the enigma up to a stand and promptly body slamming Deus right back down to the canvas, and once down, Pound Cake unleashes a series of soccer kicks of her own into Deus’ side that has the masked figure squirming to get away, and promptly finds a way out under the bottom ropes to the outside!
PERCY: Deus avoiding Pound Cake’s attacks there rather deftly.
CAT: Cowardly, you mean. After it’s all said and done, just like Johnny Raike said, Deus is, at best, a mid-rate talent with nothing but theatrics to make her, it, or him, or whatever relevant!
As Deus regroups on the outside, Pound Cake has a made several steps backward and hit a running head start and LEAPED over the ropes to a just turning around Deus and dropped a sudden cross-body block onto Deus that topples the masked figure to the outside amidst a raucous pop from the crowd!
PERCY: GOOD LORD! POUND CAKE CAN SURE FLY!
CAT: You’re surprised?! Am I the only one who has faith in Johnny Raike’s selection process? He went to Mexico, he found a talent, he brought that talent back to Purity, Louisiana, and now that talent is putting down this so-called monster before it can become anything substantial here in PAW!
1!
On the outside, the landing took as much out of Pound Cake as it did Deus, but slowly, after a moment of ensuring nothing’s broken or twisted, Pound Cake rises to a knee, acknowledging the approval of the nearby fans before dragging both she and Deus up to a stand.
2!
Before she can progress, Deus FLOORS her with a sudden DDT right down into the concrete!
PERCY: Painful reversal there!
3!
Deus struggles to stand, but finally makes it to its feet, grabbing Pound Cake by the arm and thrusting her up to her feet and giving very little prep time before whipping Pound Cake at the ring steps where she collides awfully across the metal and spills in a mess of steel steps onto the outside.
CAT: OUCH! Right into the ring steps!
PERCY: Definitely not a position Pound Cake expected to be in 2 minutes ago.
4!
Deus leans against the ring apron recovering as Pound Cake is down and seemingly out several feet away.
5!
PERCY: So far, fight fans, Deus has incrementally turned this into a legal hardcore match, utilizing the environment against his opponent.
CAT: ‘Her’. Her opponent, Percy.
PERCY: At this point does it really matter what’s behind that mask, Caitlyn?
Deus, sufficiently recovered, stalks around to the prone Pound Cake and grips her hair, aiming to heft her to a stand in a headlock and suddenly PLANTS Pound Cake down onto the ring steps in a bulldog!
6!
PERCY: Absolutely devastating! Deus is visciously capitalizing on every possible questionably legal implement here at ringside to devastate Pound Cake.
CAT: As much as a I hate it, Percy, it’s a sound strategy.
Deus stands and glares down at Pound Cake who struggles to gather her bearings.
7!
PERCY: Deus may take this to a count out!
CAT: Would that surprise you at this point, Percy?
Deus lets Pound Cake wallow momentarily before gripping her hair once more to drag her to her feet only to be surprised by a hard-struck gut punch that doubles Deus over.
8!
Pound Cake is clearly sore as she staggers to a stand and grips Deus and rolls the masked enigma into the ring to break the count. The energy expenditure staggers Cake towards the apron as she clutches her knee, her face swollen and red with a hint of a bloody lip forming after the steel steps shot and glares in the ring at the slowly rising figure of Deus before sliding in to be met by sudden downward stomps from Deus to keep Pound Cake from rising! Pound Cake struggles to shrug off the blows, making it to one knee and landing a strike of her own only to be halted by a painful-looking elbow strike to the back of the head from Deus.
PERCY: Those strikes from Deus look to pack a lot of power.
Deus takes a step back and sets up a roundhouse kick as Pound Cake is winded and wounded on one knee.
CAT: Enough power to suspend Pound Cake’s movement momentarily, but she’s still going. Raike didn’t pick a pushover, check out the brass balls on this chick rolling with every attempt at devastation Deus has attempted!
Deus spins into the kick only to be surprised by a sudden charge by Pound Cake before Deus can strike. Pound Cake slams into Deus’ back with enough force to lift the masked figure off its feet and down in a reverse spine buster!
PERCY: Punishing reversal by Pound Cake!
CAT: And she’s not done! She’s gotta make Johnny Raike proud!!
Pound Cake surely isn’t done. She forces Deus to a stand and sets the masked enigma running into the ropes. On the return Deus is met with a solid big boot right to the mask/face that downs Deus! On wobbly knees, Pound Cake drops an elbow into Deus and quickly hooks the leg for a cover!
1…
2..
PERCY: THR-KICKOUT!! Near fall by Pound Cake!
CAT: She was hoping for one, at least.
Pound Cake is noticeably flustered and in pain as she grits her teeth, grips Deus and hefts the figure up and SLAMS Deus back down into the ring with a sidewalk slam!
PERCY: And another cover by Pound Cake!
1…
2…
CAT: Another KICKOUT at three!!
PERCY: And another impressive near-fall! She might be new to PAW, but she’s making an impact here tonight against a Deus that is having trouble entirely solving Raike’s… what would you call her… apprentice?
CAT: Pupil?
PERCY: Stand-in?
CAT: If nothing else, I think it’s more appropriate at this point to call Pound Cake at least on par with Deus, that’s for sure!
Pound Cake slaps the canvas with gritted teeth and slides to her feet, still favoring her legs after being forced to charge into the ring steps, but manages to stand, forcing Deus up and irish whips Deus into the corner with full velocity!
PERCY: Powerful is Pound Cake!
CAT: Huzzah!
With some steps backward, Pound Cake charges at the corner and the propped up Deus and prepares a running splash only to find no one home as Deus slips out of the way in a split second before Pound Cake charges front first painfully into the turnbuckle!
PERCY: Damn! Pound Cake's consistently had Deus’ number, but consistently finds herself on receiving end of some bad luck when she aims to capitalize!
Deus staggers from the corner before recovering, glaring at Pound Cake and gripping her by the neck and the back of her skirt, doubling her over and turning her around before forcibly RAMMING Pound Cake’s shoulder in between the turnbuckles right into the corner post!
PERCY: Deus has displayed a canny use of natural implements to do all the damage here, and Pound Cake is definitely in a bad way, doubled over in the corner like that.
Deus takes a step back and thrusts a hard-hitting kick right into the presented Pound Cake behind forcing her to butt painfully shoulder-first into the corner. Then repeats! The kicks coming fast and hard before Deus reorients Pound Cake once more with a dizzying spin before Irish whipping Pound Cake into the opposite corner where Pound Cake smashes into the turnbuckle with force and bounces out in stunned pain. Deus wastes no time charging in at the stunned Pound Cake and slamming a sudden stop elbow right into Pound Cake’s spine that drops Cake to a knee in clear and obvious pain!
PERCY: While not overly showy, every single strike Deus has landed has done damage, Cat.
With Pound Cake down, Deus whips around into a spinning heel kick that strikes hard to the back of Pound Cake’s head and drops her to the canvas!
CAT: Devastating kick with, what are those steel toed boots, or something?!
PERCY: Deus has come prepared it would seem, Cat. I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if that entire outfit was in some way enhanced.
Deus viscerally kicks Pound Cake in the side numerous times to force her onto her back before straddling the prone woman and laying into her with vicious blows to the face.
CAT: And yet, Deus has failed to illustrate even the slightest hint of wrestling knowledge by comparison to a woman who came out here and beat that masked freak from pillar to post, what the hell are we even hyping here, Percy?
PERCY: A rather brutal street fighter named Deus it would seem…
Deus’ blows come hard and fast to Pound Cake who’s nose is bloodied, her lip bloodied and looking close to unconsciousness. Finally, after harried blows that rock Pound Cake, Deus rolls lazily into a half-assed cover. Theo Refano reluctantly slides in to count.
1….
2….
3!
PERCY: Despicable.
RICHARD ANDERSON: Here is your winner by pinfall... DEUS!
CAT: You got that right. Deus didn’t win that match. Deus turned a singles standard match into an impromptu hardcore match and then never let up.
PERCY: Like it or not, Deus responded to Pound Cake’s tremendous talent with… I guess tactics that got results.
Deus stumbles out of the ring to the floor, heading towards the back. The Enigma reaches the midway point when the fateful sound of ‘Stranglehold’ by Nugent hits over the PA System.
PERCY: OH…
CAT: SHIT….
Deus turns around just in time to see Press and Flaming Youth push past the curtain, power walking in the enigmas direction. The fans go nuts as Press picks up speed, slamming into the masked phenom with a vicious clothesline that sends Deus down hard to the steel flooring. From there, The BombTrax do what they do, and proceed to lay the boots to the Enigma on par with a street mugging.
PERCY: Good Lord, The BombTrax are beating the holy hell out of Deus!
CAT: Well, it’s not like that bastard didn’t ask for it. Deus called out The BombTrax, the entity claiming it wanted them to finish the job this time, and I’ll be damned if it doesn’t look like they are going to do it!
The duo cease their stomping, having kicked Deus all the way down to the bottom of the ramp. Press directs traffic, Youth snatch Deus up off the floor and tossing it inside the ring, while Press moves over to the steel steps and hefts the top portion clear off the base. Cake makes her way to the back, watching all of this in awe as the fans cheer on the promise of violence.
PERCY: This is not looking good….We need to get someone out here to stop this.
CAT: Sure, Percy. Why don’t you get in the ring and give them a good talking to.
Percy casts a pleading look at Cat, while Youth positions the steel steps in the center of the ring, the Big Man coming in over the top rope. Press reaches down and jerks Deus from the canvas, placing the enigma’s head between his legs before hoisting him/her up high into the air to sit on his chest. Youth quickly bounds to the ring apron, then springs up to the top with ease. They hold those poses for just a moment, a hush falling over the crowd as they watch in anticipation. Then, as if in slow motion, Youth springs from his perch, spinning in midair to catch Deus right in the face with a spin wheel kick, while at the same time Press thunders the enigma down across the steel steps. The impact is tremendous, as Deus writhes across the steel in clear agony.
PERCY: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! THEY MAY HAVE JUST BROKEN DEUS IN HALF!
CAT: Well, if that didn’t do it, this will…
Press, obviously not satisfied, jerks the crumpled form of Deus off the steel steps, and puts the enigma in powerbomb position again. He easily lifts the masked phenom up onto his chest, and he turns with his cargo towards the ropes facing the steel ramp way. The buzz is mind numbing through the arena as he rushes forwards, stopping at the last second by use of the ropes, while his victim soars through the air. Deus impacts unnaturally, the upper portion and back of the head slamming against the steel Ramp, while the lower back and legs crack against the concrete floor.
PERCY: THAT SAME MOVE PUT CROSS RECOBA ON THE SHELF FOR NEARLY SEVEN MONTHS! Someone needs to get out here and stop this. Please. These two are going to kill him.
CAT: Or her.
PERCY: At this point, I don’t even care, Cat. There’s a human being inside of that mask, and it is being decimated by The BombTrax!
Press drops down out of the ring as Youth leans against the ropes watching, not really sure what more they could do to the enigma. Press looks around for a moment, gears obviously turning, and he makes a request of a fan at ringside. The fan, wearing a #TheAmbulanceBrokeHisFall t-shirt, happily obliges by handing Press his seat. The big man takes the steel chair, and comes to stand over Deus, who has not moved, when security comes rushing down the ramp.
PERCY: Thank God! This has gone too far.
Press eyes the security that’s surrounded him, which makes him appear to be even more dangerous as he makes no indication he’s willing to relinquish his weapon. Youth joins him on the outside, and tries to ease the big man with a few words of caution, and that’s when he strikes. The steel chair comes high into the air, and he drives it down into the face of Deus, crushing the skull between the chair and the steel ramp. He manages to nail the enigma two more times before security descends upon him, engulfing him in a hulking mass of bodies. Youth manages to get away from the fray, and he skips back up to the top of the stage as EMT’s join the fray, quickly checking on Deus who has not moved.
PERCY: That…..I….I don’t have any words for it.
CAT: Awesome, maybe?
PERCY: You can’t be serious?
CAT: People, myself included, have run their mouth about Press and his championship reign, but he just put an exclamation point on what it is he’s willing to do to protect his business. Deus called The BombTrax out, and they just answered…big time. If I were the other participants in that Seven Deadly Sins match, I’d take note of what just happened her. These Mother Fucker’s are bad men, who just happen to get cheered.
PERCY: Even now, Deus is refusing to allow the EMT’s to remove it’s mask, but they are thankfully carting the enigma to the back as we speak. The BombTrax are now in the ring with a microphone, while security stands by on the outside.
Press stalks around the ring like a caged animal, adrenaline still pumping between his ears. He brings the microphone up to his lips as he finally comes to the center of the ring.
PRESS: You called us out, and we delivered. I know that was just one of many behind the mask, but that’s one less piece of shit that can claim themselves as Deus! You like to talk about your Legions, well bring them on. I’ve had to listen to Cross Recoba cry like a bitch. I’ve had to listen to Calvin Harris cry like a bitch. Before that it was CJ O’Donnell, Hungry Jack, and Stevie Harris. I’m finished listening to you cunts bitch and cry just because when you step into the ring with the likes of us you can’t get the job done.
Press pauses, taking a deep breath to steady himself before he continues.
PRESS: At Seven Deadly Sins my back’s already against a wall, and the likelihood of me walking out still carrying the PAW Heavyweight Championships is negligible, but until then, I can do one last thing to make sure that the only people I have to deal with is the six other competitors in the ring. So Deus, I know you’re back there listening. I know that wasn’t your only incarnation. End this shit now! You want an answer to your challenge, then the answer is yes, and the next time WICKED is on the air you and I are going to settle this once and for all.
Press tosses the mic to the ring tech, and then turns to stare out at the crowd who continue their chants and ovations. Youth claps, and then exits the ring, soon followed by the big man. The two of them make their way to the top of the stage before turning to make one final pose for the crowd before disappearing behind the curtain. The scene fades to commercial.
GET YOUR 'BOMBTRAX' T-SHIRT
BY VISITING PAW's ONLINE STORE!
Singles Match
(The Winner Advances to the Seven Deadly Sins Ladder Match)
Mikael versus Adam Wolfe
WATCH NEW EPISODES OF 'HEXX'
ONLY ON THE CIRCLE TELEVISION NETWORK!
{Main Event}
Singles Match
(The Winner Advances to the Seven Deadly Sins Ladder Match)
Kelsey Spencer versus Cross Recoba
PERCY: Welcome back everyone....I still can't believe what we just witnessed out here.
CAT: What do you expect, Percy? That crazy bastard Deus called out The BombTrax, and guess what? They showed up! That's what they do. What they've always done.
PERCY: Yeah, but to so brutally destroy that person. Good Lord. I have a lot of respect for the PAW Champion and his partner, but I can't get behind trying to end a persons career.
CAT: Are you kidding me? Maybe you don't remember what happened at Bad Moon Rising. Deus could have ended Press' career with those brass knuckles. It was very fortunate that all it took was 38 stitches, and some time off due to concussion that he even made it back to the ring. I'm sorry, Percy, but I say Deus got what was coming to....well....it.
Percy shakes his head.
PERCY: Oh... hold on fight fans, before we bring you this singles match between Wolfe and Mikael, I'm getting word of something happening backstage.
CAT: Okay, someone needs to stop those creepy clowns from murdering all the PAW backstage staff.
PERCY: Let's just be happy they didn't cause any serious disruptions for the following contest Richard Anderson's about to introduce.
Percy leans back in his chair rubbing the bridge of his nose incredulously as Richard Anderson steps to the center of the ring.
RICHARD ANDERSON: The following contest is a singles match scheduled for one fall or submission, and the winner will go on to be a participant in the Seven Deadly Sins Ladder Match for the PAW Heavyweight Championship...
The lights go out as "Sign of an open eye" by Gorgoroth blasts through the PA system. The big screen shows the Norwegian flag which waves slowly; next, a black-and-white video/compilation of Norway's beautiful forests, waterfalls, animals and some ancient Nord buildings. Finally, the tron shows Mikael in his room, sitting in his red luxury chair - thousands of books surrounding him. The man can be seen displaying an evil smirk. Finally, the lights are turned on, and Mikael stands at the center of the stage, wearing a white Victorian-era linen shirt, a dark blue double breasted vest, a black and white knit neck scarf, grey fingerless gloves, black pinstripe pants, brown leather belt with razor holster, and dark brown boots.
Around his waist sits one of the PAW Tag Team Championships, his fingers tapping rhythmically across it's surface.
RICHARD ANDERSON: Introducing first, weighting in at 247 pounds, and hailing from Ogn Og Fjordane, Norway. He is one half of the PAW Tag Team Champions, 'THE PARAGON OF KNOWLEDGE', MIKAEL!
Mikael makes his way to the ring showing no emotion to the crowd surrounding his descent. He slowly unbuttons his sleeves as he climbs down the ramp. After that, Mikael climbs the ring by the stairs and get in by pulling the ropes down. He takes off his vest and scarf. The man politely slides his hands on the top rope as he walks to his corner. Finally, his right hand grabs his left fist behind his back as he looks up in a calm manner.
PERCY: As you may have guessed if you missed it, Adam Wolfe and Mikael won the PAW Tag Team Championships last episode, and now are being forced to do battle here tonight for a spot in the Main Event at Seven Deadly Sins. What do you think is going through their heads right now?
CAT: When it comes to these two, I don't think I want to know.
PERCY: Fair enough.
"Master of Puppets" by the legendary Metallica plays through the Tunica Arena and Expo, as Adam Wolfe charges down to the ring, showing no reaction to the mixed reaction of the PAW crowd.
Across his shoulder sits the other PAW Tag Team Championship, and jostles as he continues to the ring.
RICHARD ANDERSON: Now making his way to the ring, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, he weighs in tonight at two-hundred and twenty pounds, and is the other half of the PAW Tag Team Champions, 'THE PUPPET MASTER', ADAM WOOOOOOLFE!
Wolfe slides into the ring, and plops down in the nearest corner. He sits cross legged, staring up at Mikael with a disjointed expression.
CAT: That dude is weird.
PERCY: Yeah, both of these guys are definitely eccentric, but they've proven themselves in the ring, and one of them will go on to have an opportunity to vie for the PAW Heavyweight Championship. Well, it looks like Sharon is ready to ring the bell, and we are underway!
CAT: So when did you get on a first name basis with our new Senior Official?
PERCY: No need to be jealous, Cat.
Wolfe and Mikael go to lock up in the center of the ring, but upon making contact, Mikael pops Wolfe's lead arm up into the air, and reaches down to scoop him up and then slam him back down to the canvas with authority. There's a brief pause after the impact, Mikael looking down at Wolfe with a smile, while Adam looks up at Mikael in surprise. Then the two are off, Mikael falling back into the ropes for spring, and Wolfe rolling over onto his stomach, and positioning himself to where Mikael has to hop over him or trip after the rebound. Mikael comes back and Wolfe pops up to his feet right as he reaches the center of the ring, hip tossing the man down to the mat. He drops an elbow, but Mikael rolls out of it, and up to his feet, dropping one of his own. Wolfe quickly gets out of the way, and both men come to their feet in a face off, and the fans explode with applause.
PERCY: Tit-For-Tat it would appear between the PAW Tag Team Champions.
CAT: Keep your mom's day job out of this, Percy.
The two lock up once more, but this time Wolfe slips behind Mikael and hooks him in a waist lock. He attempts to lift the man up to cast him down to the canvas, but Mikael is able to keep his feet under him, and instead fires a back elbow shot right back into Wolfe's face. Wolfe recoils back a few steps, giving Mikael enough room to spin around with a boot to his midsection which doubles him over. Mikael follows the boot with a high knee lift that sends Wolfe crashing to the mat, and then Mikael goes for a quick cover.
1...
PERCY: Only a count of one there, as both men get to their feet. Mikael going for a right hand but Wolfe ducks it allowing the Norwegian to spin through, hooks him under the arm and lifts....Atomic Drop down across the knee to Mikael!
Mikael is thrown forward into the ropes by the move, and he strikes with his chest forcing him to back peddle back towards Wolfe. Adam brings both hands clasped together crashing down onto Wolfe's upper back, propelling him forward again. Again he comes back, and this time, Wolfe hooks him around the waist, and takes him over with a German Suplex into a bridge.
1...
2...
CAT: KICK OUT! Mikael rolling over to a seated position in the nearby corner, clutching the back of his head. Wolfe....what the hell is he doing?
PERCY: Wolfe just jerked his boot off, and....and he has a fucking sock puppet on his foot!
CAT: That....that's just gross!
The fans cheer as Wolfe steps all the way over to the opposite corner, and then comes tearing across the ring at Mikael, throwing his sock puppet covered foot out at the last second, driving it right into his tag partner's face. Mikael convulses across the canvas, clutching at his nose, rolling to the outside to create some distance. Wolfe hobbles around inside of the ring, while the Senior Official demands that he put his boot back on. Adam complies with a grin to the audience, while Mikael pulls his hand away from his face to reveal blood pooling from his nose.
PERCY: Adam Wolfe may have just broken his tag partner's nose!
CAT: Well, they aren't partner's tonight Percy! This is for a chance to gain a shot at the PAW Heavyweight Championship, and they aren't pulling any punches!
PERCY: Well, Wolfe has his damn boot back on, and he looks to be gauging the distance to Mikael.....Adam off the ropes now, and barreling across the ring...SUICIDE DIVE THROUGH THE ROPES! NO! MIKAEL MET HIM WITH A YAKUZA KICK THAT DAMN NEAR TORE HIS HEAD OFF! MY GOD!
CAT: That was pretty sick, and the PAW fans are on their feet now...
CROWD: PAW! PAW! PAW! PAW!
Mikael grabs up a half unconscious Wolfe, and scoops him up onto his shoulder only to toss him up and out, causing him to snake eyes right down across the steel guard rail. Wolfe recoils to the concrete floor as Mikael wipes the final trickles of blood from his nose. The Norwegian stalks over to his downed opponent, and jerks him up to toss him into the ring. Out of nowhere, Wolfe reaches up, hooks Mikael around the back of his head, and pulls his chin down to rest ontop of his skull, before dropping straight down to his knee's. Upon impact Mikael snaps backwards, stumbling over to fall against the guard rail.
PERCY: Uh-Oh!
CAT: What is it?
PERCY: That look in Wolfe's eyes. I don't think Adam Wolfe is in control anymore.
CAT: heh-heh-heh....Welcome home Genocide!
Wolfe/Genocide's right eye is already starting to swell shut from that vicious Yakuza Kick from earlier, but it doesn't seem to phase the insane superstar as he stalks in on Mikael. The Norwegian tries to stand, but a swift boot to his ribs stops that idea, and Genocide opens up on his tag partner with right hands. Meanwhile, in the ring, Sharon Orsbach has reached the count of 7, and she yells at the two combatants to get themselves back into the ring. Mikael is taken all the way down to the ground with the piston like right hands from Genocide, who turns to notice the Senior Officials count for the first time. He slips under the bottom rope at 9 and a 1/2, and then rolls right back out, not bothering to even acknowledge Sharon's warnings. She shakes her head and begins a new count as Genocide pulls Mikael up to his feet, and then whips him towards the steel steps. The Norwegian, however, reverses the direction, and instead sends Genocide, who crashes with a loud 'clang'. Mikael stumbles over to help Genocide up to his feet, and eventually back into the ring.
PERCY: This match finally going back where it belongs, and Mikael has Genocide up, and good lord...he's just choking the man! The official all over him, but he's not listening, and now she's starting a five count.
CAT: Mikael doesn't seem to much care that that's his tag partner right now. He knows what Genocide can do when he get's lose, and he's trying to stop that from happening.
At the count of five, Mikael hoists Genocide high up into the air by the throat, and then sends him thundering back down to the ring with a choke slam. Genocide clutches at his back in agony, as Mikael back peddles to the ropes for some momentum, and when he rebounds he leaps high into the air to come crashing down onto Wolfe with a big splash. He hooks the leg after landing it.
1...
2...
PERCY: THRE-KICK OUT! I thought that was it right there, but Genocide has a little something left in the tank apparently.
CAT: Maybe not after this...Look!
Mikael has an unnatural break from character for a moment, the usually cool Norwegian angrily snatching Wolfe up off the mat, and positioning him for something big. With Genocide's head tucked between his legs, he reaches down and yanks the man up onto his chest in powerbomb position. As soon as he's up there, however, Genocide comes alive, hammering more of those piston like rights down into Mikael's skull. The Norwegian stumbles back a bit, but manages to catch himself, and lurches forward to complete his patented finisher. Genocide never gives him the chance, pushing off of Mikael's shoulders, and sliding down his back behind him. Mikael manages to put on the breaks and he spins around just in time to catch a boot to the midsection, and a snap DDT by Genocide. Mikael's head spikes off the canvas, and he flips over onto his back, as Genocide struggles to get to his feet, ultimately ending up laying halfway across the middle rope.
PERCY: Both these guys at a stalemate here, but one of them has to emerge victorious.
CAT: Well, technically, no, they don't. It could end in a double count out. A double disqualification. Neither man being able to answer the ref's call. Many ways for us not to have that fifth participant.
PERCY: You know what I meant, Cat. Not to mention we can't afford for another fiasco like that!
Mikael pushes up to his feet after a time of trying to keep his balance, and Genocide eyes him from the ropes, pushing up to his as well. When Mikael is fully upright Genocide comes barreling across the ring at him, leaving his feat and lunging forward for a spear. Mikael deftly dodges out of the way at the last second, and Genocide ends up landing throat first across the middle rope on the other side. He comes up to his feet grabbing at his neck, stumbling back around right into Mikael's waiting arms. The Norwegian uses the little momentum Genocide has off the rebound to pop him up into the air, catch him in a powerbomb position, and then after a short run, drives him down into the canvas.
PERCY: SUPREMACY BY MIKAEL! He's going for a cover!
1...
2...
3!!!
CAT: That shock haired Norwegian bastard did it!
RICHARD ANDERSON: And the winner of this match, and the fourth participant in the Ladder Match for the PAW Heavyweight Championship at Seven Deadly Sins....'The Paragon Of Knowledge', MIKAEL!!
Mikael gets to his feet and falls into the ropes exhausted, but with an uncharacteristic smile across his face. With a surge of determination, he puts both feet under him, and steps forward, pointing at his wrist for Sharon Orbach to raise his hand in victory. She does so, and he savors the boos that reign down upon him as he nods to the capacity crowd with a satisfied expression. He jerks his hand down, and turns back to face his downed tag team partner, only to find that Genocide is no longer down...He's up, and on his haunches, and he lurches forward with power and speed just before slamming into Mikael with a massive gore like spear.
PERCY: THE HOWLER BY GENOCIDE TO MIKAEL!! THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE PAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!
CAT: Hey! Wolfe and Mikael are the Tag Champs, but Genocide...he's like a honey badger. He don't give a fuck!
Genocide snaps up off of his tag partner, tongue lolling out of his mouth, and his deranged eyes boring down onto Mikael. The sadistic sneer never leaves his face as he exits the ring, some of the crowd cheering, more of them booing. Genocide bangs the sides of his own head as he backs up the ramp, laughing uncontrollably and his eyes wild and untamed. Inside the ring, Mikael lays there in a heap cradling his midsection, staring up at the insane man that is still his tag team partner.
PERCY: Folks, I have no idea what in the hell just happened other than the fact that Genocide is crazy. I wonder what Wolfe will think when all this is over.
CAT: Does he ever think? I thought that was impossible.
PERCY: Cat, I'm not going to be drawn into an argument. This could be disastrous for our PAW Tag Team Champions, but right now, we've got to follow whatever's going on in the back, cause apparently this pandemonium is never going to end....
CAT: What do you expect, Percy? That crazy bastard Deus called out The BombTrax, and guess what? They showed up! That's what they do. What they've always done.
PERCY: Yeah, but to so brutally destroy that person. Good Lord. I have a lot of respect for the PAW Champion and his partner, but I can't get behind trying to end a persons career.
CAT: Are you kidding me? Maybe you don't remember what happened at Bad Moon Rising. Deus could have ended Press' career with those brass knuckles. It was very fortunate that all it took was 38 stitches, and some time off due to concussion that he even made it back to the ring. I'm sorry, Percy, but I say Deus got what was coming to....well....it.
Percy shakes his head.
PERCY: Oh... hold on fight fans, before we bring you this singles match between Wolfe and Mikael, I'm getting word of something happening backstage.
The camera walks behind Francis Ford Cuppola and Rodney lead by the two French Mime Assassins through the backstage corridor.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: It's time for phase 2, my friends.
The four men's pace quickens. Ahead of them, freshly in sight are two men.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: There's the bastards! TAG-TEAM USURPERS! GET THEM, MIMES!
The two men barely have a chance to turn around before the French Mime Assassins have rushed them and spilled them onto the concrete. Francis and Rodney rush to catch up and encircle the scene as the beatdown commences.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: How you like us now Wolfe and Mikael! Or is it Mikael and Wolfe?! NOBODY CARES, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
RODNEY P: You tell 'em, Francis!
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Damn right! Get the table Mime number 1. Use the table on that jerk off with the hair!
Francis stands by and directs as Comme Ci does just that. He grabs a refreshment table and uses it to bash down onto Adam Wolfe! Comme Ca violently kicks down on Mikael.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: And you! Other Mime! Pour tabasco into Mikhail's eyes! HAHAHA!
RODNEY P: It's not Mikhail, Francis, it's Mikael.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I don't care!
Comme Ca stops kicking the wounded man and grabs a bottle of tabasco sauce and correspondingly drenches the downed man's face and eyes in Tabasco which illicits a roar of agony!
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Gotem! NOW POUR COFFEE GROUNDS ON HIM!
Comme Ci continues to bash Adam Wolfe violently with the table till the man is barely moving, and Comme Ca grabs a full container of coffee grounds he obediently pours all over Mikael!
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: NOW THE PARMESAN! HAHAHAHA! GONNA MAKE HIM TASTE LIKE THE GARBAGE THAT HE IS!
Comme Ca dumps Parmesan cheese all over the confused and agonized Mikael before continuing to stomp and beat down on the man!
RODNEY P: Uhhhh, Francis...
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: What, you fool? Can't you see I'm seasoning our foes with righteous vengeance? SOMEONE POUR BEER ON HIM SO I CAN GET IN HIS FACE AND TALK TRASH! HAHAHAHAHA!
RODNEY P: Would you stop for a second and look up there, please?
Francis has followed Rodney's eyes further down the corridor towards the ramp entrance to the arena proper where the real Mikael and Adam Wolfe are preparing to make their way to the ring.
RODNEY P: This isn't Mikael and Wolfe.
The mimes enthusiasm slows to a crawl mid-stomp to look down and see two men with name tags thoroughly beaten and ridiculously seasoned. Francis blankly eyes the two men, Wolfe and Mikael, who haven't even noticed the ordeal Francis and his mimes have just put these two through.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Well, shit. For real?
Francis is irritated. Rodney peeks at the name tags as the mimes step away innocently as though they never touched the men.
RODNEY P: This is Michael Fox, and the other guy is... Adam Svenson... Neither of which are the right people.
Francis blinks.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: So we hit the wrong guys again. That's kinda funny.
Rodney lacks a response that isn't condescending. Francis shrugs to himself.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Well... I think our work here is done. Let that be a lesson to you....
RODNEY P: But Francis, what about the message? Spitting hot fire, and all the rest of it?
Francis looks around hoping no one has seen the scene he and his mimes have just caused.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I think we're good.
Francis glances over the one man, Michael Fox, lately beaten with a table who's leg is twitching, and then Adam Svenson who's unconscious and doused in a pool of cooking ingredients, and then awkwardly sidles off with darting, guilty eyes.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Yeah... I'm satisfied, come on Mimes.
Together, Francis and the mimes clear out rather quickly before anyone can intervene on behalf of the fallen innocents. And Rodney, with a roll of his eyes follows suit.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: It's time for phase 2, my friends.
The four men's pace quickens. Ahead of them, freshly in sight are two men.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: There's the bastards! TAG-TEAM USURPERS! GET THEM, MIMES!
The two men barely have a chance to turn around before the French Mime Assassins have rushed them and spilled them onto the concrete. Francis and Rodney rush to catch up and encircle the scene as the beatdown commences.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: How you like us now Wolfe and Mikael! Or is it Mikael and Wolfe?! NOBODY CARES, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
RODNEY P: You tell 'em, Francis!
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Damn right! Get the table Mime number 1. Use the table on that jerk off with the hair!
Francis stands by and directs as Comme Ci does just that. He grabs a refreshment table and uses it to bash down onto Adam Wolfe! Comme Ca violently kicks down on Mikael.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: And you! Other Mime! Pour tabasco into Mikhail's eyes! HAHAHA!
RODNEY P: It's not Mikhail, Francis, it's Mikael.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I don't care!
Comme Ca stops kicking the wounded man and grabs a bottle of tabasco sauce and correspondingly drenches the downed man's face and eyes in Tabasco which illicits a roar of agony!
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Gotem! NOW POUR COFFEE GROUNDS ON HIM!
Comme Ci continues to bash Adam Wolfe violently with the table till the man is barely moving, and Comme Ca grabs a full container of coffee grounds he obediently pours all over Mikael!
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: NOW THE PARMESAN! HAHAHAHA! GONNA MAKE HIM TASTE LIKE THE GARBAGE THAT HE IS!
Comme Ca dumps Parmesan cheese all over the confused and agonized Mikael before continuing to stomp and beat down on the man!
RODNEY P: Uhhhh, Francis...
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: What, you fool? Can't you see I'm seasoning our foes with righteous vengeance? SOMEONE POUR BEER ON HIM SO I CAN GET IN HIS FACE AND TALK TRASH! HAHAHAHAHA!
RODNEY P: Would you stop for a second and look up there, please?
Francis has followed Rodney's eyes further down the corridor towards the ramp entrance to the arena proper where the real Mikael and Adam Wolfe are preparing to make their way to the ring.
RODNEY P: This isn't Mikael and Wolfe.
The mimes enthusiasm slows to a crawl mid-stomp to look down and see two men with name tags thoroughly beaten and ridiculously seasoned. Francis blankly eyes the two men, Wolfe and Mikael, who haven't even noticed the ordeal Francis and his mimes have just put these two through.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Well, shit. For real?
Francis is irritated. Rodney peeks at the name tags as the mimes step away innocently as though they never touched the men.
RODNEY P: This is Michael Fox, and the other guy is... Adam Svenson... Neither of which are the right people.
Francis blinks.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: So we hit the wrong guys again. That's kinda funny.
Rodney lacks a response that isn't condescending. Francis shrugs to himself.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Well... I think our work here is done. Let that be a lesson to you....
RODNEY P: But Francis, what about the message? Spitting hot fire, and all the rest of it?
Francis looks around hoping no one has seen the scene he and his mimes have just caused.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: I think we're good.
Francis glances over the one man, Michael Fox, lately beaten with a table who's leg is twitching, and then Adam Svenson who's unconscious and doused in a pool of cooking ingredients, and then awkwardly sidles off with darting, guilty eyes.
FRANCIS FORD CUPPOLA: Yeah... I'm satisfied, come on Mimes.
Together, Francis and the mimes clear out rather quickly before anyone can intervene on behalf of the fallen innocents. And Rodney, with a roll of his eyes follows suit.
CAT: Okay, someone needs to stop those creepy clowns from murdering all the PAW backstage staff.
PERCY: Let's just be happy they didn't cause any serious disruptions for the following contest Richard Anderson's about to introduce.
Percy leans back in his chair rubbing the bridge of his nose incredulously as Richard Anderson steps to the center of the ring.
RICHARD ANDERSON: The following contest is a singles match scheduled for one fall or submission, and the winner will go on to be a participant in the Seven Deadly Sins Ladder Match for the PAW Heavyweight Championship...
The lights go out as "Sign of an open eye" by Gorgoroth blasts through the PA system. The big screen shows the Norwegian flag which waves slowly; next, a black-and-white video/compilation of Norway's beautiful forests, waterfalls, animals and some ancient Nord buildings. Finally, the tron shows Mikael in his room, sitting in his red luxury chair - thousands of books surrounding him. The man can be seen displaying an evil smirk. Finally, the lights are turned on, and Mikael stands at the center of the stage, wearing a white Victorian-era linen shirt, a dark blue double breasted vest, a black and white knit neck scarf, grey fingerless gloves, black pinstripe pants, brown leather belt with razor holster, and dark brown boots.
Around his waist sits one of the PAW Tag Team Championships, his fingers tapping rhythmically across it's surface.
RICHARD ANDERSON: Introducing first, weighting in at 247 pounds, and hailing from Ogn Og Fjordane, Norway. He is one half of the PAW Tag Team Champions, 'THE PARAGON OF KNOWLEDGE', MIKAEL!
Mikael makes his way to the ring showing no emotion to the crowd surrounding his descent. He slowly unbuttons his sleeves as he climbs down the ramp. After that, Mikael climbs the ring by the stairs and get in by pulling the ropes down. He takes off his vest and scarf. The man politely slides his hands on the top rope as he walks to his corner. Finally, his right hand grabs his left fist behind his back as he looks up in a calm manner.
PERCY: As you may have guessed if you missed it, Adam Wolfe and Mikael won the PAW Tag Team Championships last episode, and now are being forced to do battle here tonight for a spot in the Main Event at Seven Deadly Sins. What do you think is going through their heads right now?
CAT: When it comes to these two, I don't think I want to know.
PERCY: Fair enough.
"Master of Puppets" by the legendary Metallica plays through the Tunica Arena and Expo, as Adam Wolfe charges down to the ring, showing no reaction to the mixed reaction of the PAW crowd.
Across his shoulder sits the other PAW Tag Team Championship, and jostles as he continues to the ring.
RICHARD ANDERSON: Now making his way to the ring, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, he weighs in tonight at two-hundred and twenty pounds, and is the other half of the PAW Tag Team Champions, 'THE PUPPET MASTER', ADAM WOOOOOOLFE!
Wolfe slides into the ring, and plops down in the nearest corner. He sits cross legged, staring up at Mikael with a disjointed expression.
CAT: That dude is weird.
PERCY: Yeah, both of these guys are definitely eccentric, but they've proven themselves in the ring, and one of them will go on to have an opportunity to vie for the PAW Heavyweight Championship. Well, it looks like Sharon is ready to ring the bell, and we are underway!
CAT: So when did you get on a first name basis with our new Senior Official?
PERCY: No need to be jealous, Cat.
Wolfe and Mikael go to lock up in the center of the ring, but upon making contact, Mikael pops Wolfe's lead arm up into the air, and reaches down to scoop him up and then slam him back down to the canvas with authority. There's a brief pause after the impact, Mikael looking down at Wolfe with a smile, while Adam looks up at Mikael in surprise. Then the two are off, Mikael falling back into the ropes for spring, and Wolfe rolling over onto his stomach, and positioning himself to where Mikael has to hop over him or trip after the rebound. Mikael comes back and Wolfe pops up to his feet right as he reaches the center of the ring, hip tossing the man down to the mat. He drops an elbow, but Mikael rolls out of it, and up to his feet, dropping one of his own. Wolfe quickly gets out of the way, and both men come to their feet in a face off, and the fans explode with applause.
PERCY: Tit-For-Tat it would appear between the PAW Tag Team Champions.
CAT: Keep your mom's day job out of this, Percy.
The two lock up once more, but this time Wolfe slips behind Mikael and hooks him in a waist lock. He attempts to lift the man up to cast him down to the canvas, but Mikael is able to keep his feet under him, and instead fires a back elbow shot right back into Wolfe's face. Wolfe recoils back a few steps, giving Mikael enough room to spin around with a boot to his midsection which doubles him over. Mikael follows the boot with a high knee lift that sends Wolfe crashing to the mat, and then Mikael goes for a quick cover.
1...
PERCY: Only a count of one there, as both men get to their feet. Mikael going for a right hand but Wolfe ducks it allowing the Norwegian to spin through, hooks him under the arm and lifts....Atomic Drop down across the knee to Mikael!
Mikael is thrown forward into the ropes by the move, and he strikes with his chest forcing him to back peddle back towards Wolfe. Adam brings both hands clasped together crashing down onto Wolfe's upper back, propelling him forward again. Again he comes back, and this time, Wolfe hooks him around the waist, and takes him over with a German Suplex into a bridge.
1...
2...
CAT: KICK OUT! Mikael rolling over to a seated position in the nearby corner, clutching the back of his head. Wolfe....what the hell is he doing?
PERCY: Wolfe just jerked his boot off, and....and he has a fucking sock puppet on his foot!
CAT: That....that's just gross!
The fans cheer as Wolfe steps all the way over to the opposite corner, and then comes tearing across the ring at Mikael, throwing his sock puppet covered foot out at the last second, driving it right into his tag partner's face. Mikael convulses across the canvas, clutching at his nose, rolling to the outside to create some distance. Wolfe hobbles around inside of the ring, while the Senior Official demands that he put his boot back on. Adam complies with a grin to the audience, while Mikael pulls his hand away from his face to reveal blood pooling from his nose.
PERCY: Adam Wolfe may have just broken his tag partner's nose!
CAT: Well, they aren't partner's tonight Percy! This is for a chance to gain a shot at the PAW Heavyweight Championship, and they aren't pulling any punches!
PERCY: Well, Wolfe has his damn boot back on, and he looks to be gauging the distance to Mikael.....Adam off the ropes now, and barreling across the ring...SUICIDE DIVE THROUGH THE ROPES! NO! MIKAEL MET HIM WITH A YAKUZA KICK THAT DAMN NEAR TORE HIS HEAD OFF! MY GOD!
CAT: That was pretty sick, and the PAW fans are on their feet now...
CROWD: PAW! PAW! PAW! PAW!
Mikael grabs up a half unconscious Wolfe, and scoops him up onto his shoulder only to toss him up and out, causing him to snake eyes right down across the steel guard rail. Wolfe recoils to the concrete floor as Mikael wipes the final trickles of blood from his nose. The Norwegian stalks over to his downed opponent, and jerks him up to toss him into the ring. Out of nowhere, Wolfe reaches up, hooks Mikael around the back of his head, and pulls his chin down to rest ontop of his skull, before dropping straight down to his knee's. Upon impact Mikael snaps backwards, stumbling over to fall against the guard rail.
PERCY: Uh-Oh!
CAT: What is it?
PERCY: That look in Wolfe's eyes. I don't think Adam Wolfe is in control anymore.
CAT: heh-heh-heh....Welcome home Genocide!
Wolfe/Genocide's right eye is already starting to swell shut from that vicious Yakuza Kick from earlier, but it doesn't seem to phase the insane superstar as he stalks in on Mikael. The Norwegian tries to stand, but a swift boot to his ribs stops that idea, and Genocide opens up on his tag partner with right hands. Meanwhile, in the ring, Sharon Orsbach has reached the count of 7, and she yells at the two combatants to get themselves back into the ring. Mikael is taken all the way down to the ground with the piston like right hands from Genocide, who turns to notice the Senior Officials count for the first time. He slips under the bottom rope at 9 and a 1/2, and then rolls right back out, not bothering to even acknowledge Sharon's warnings. She shakes her head and begins a new count as Genocide pulls Mikael up to his feet, and then whips him towards the steel steps. The Norwegian, however, reverses the direction, and instead sends Genocide, who crashes with a loud 'clang'. Mikael stumbles over to help Genocide up to his feet, and eventually back into the ring.
PERCY: This match finally going back where it belongs, and Mikael has Genocide up, and good lord...he's just choking the man! The official all over him, but he's not listening, and now she's starting a five count.
CAT: Mikael doesn't seem to much care that that's his tag partner right now. He knows what Genocide can do when he get's lose, and he's trying to stop that from happening.
At the count of five, Mikael hoists Genocide high up into the air by the throat, and then sends him thundering back down to the ring with a choke slam. Genocide clutches at his back in agony, as Mikael back peddles to the ropes for some momentum, and when he rebounds he leaps high into the air to come crashing down onto Wolfe with a big splash. He hooks the leg after landing it.
1...
2...
PERCY: THRE-KICK OUT! I thought that was it right there, but Genocide has a little something left in the tank apparently.
CAT: Maybe not after this...Look!
Mikael has an unnatural break from character for a moment, the usually cool Norwegian angrily snatching Wolfe up off the mat, and positioning him for something big. With Genocide's head tucked between his legs, he reaches down and yanks the man up onto his chest in powerbomb position. As soon as he's up there, however, Genocide comes alive, hammering more of those piston like rights down into Mikael's skull. The Norwegian stumbles back a bit, but manages to catch himself, and lurches forward to complete his patented finisher. Genocide never gives him the chance, pushing off of Mikael's shoulders, and sliding down his back behind him. Mikael manages to put on the breaks and he spins around just in time to catch a boot to the midsection, and a snap DDT by Genocide. Mikael's head spikes off the canvas, and he flips over onto his back, as Genocide struggles to get to his feet, ultimately ending up laying halfway across the middle rope.
PERCY: Both these guys at a stalemate here, but one of them has to emerge victorious.
CAT: Well, technically, no, they don't. It could end in a double count out. A double disqualification. Neither man being able to answer the ref's call. Many ways for us not to have that fifth participant.
PERCY: You know what I meant, Cat. Not to mention we can't afford for another fiasco like that!
Mikael pushes up to his feet after a time of trying to keep his balance, and Genocide eyes him from the ropes, pushing up to his as well. When Mikael is fully upright Genocide comes barreling across the ring at him, leaving his feat and lunging forward for a spear. Mikael deftly dodges out of the way at the last second, and Genocide ends up landing throat first across the middle rope on the other side. He comes up to his feet grabbing at his neck, stumbling back around right into Mikael's waiting arms. The Norwegian uses the little momentum Genocide has off the rebound to pop him up into the air, catch him in a powerbomb position, and then after a short run, drives him down into the canvas.
PERCY: SUPREMACY BY MIKAEL! He's going for a cover!
1...
2...
3!!!
CAT: That shock haired Norwegian bastard did it!
RICHARD ANDERSON: And the winner of this match, and the fourth participant in the Ladder Match for the PAW Heavyweight Championship at Seven Deadly Sins....'The Paragon Of Knowledge', MIKAEL!!
Mikael gets to his feet and falls into the ropes exhausted, but with an uncharacteristic smile across his face. With a surge of determination, he puts both feet under him, and steps forward, pointing at his wrist for Sharon Orbach to raise his hand in victory. She does so, and he savors the boos that reign down upon him as he nods to the capacity crowd with a satisfied expression. He jerks his hand down, and turns back to face his downed tag team partner, only to find that Genocide is no longer down...He's up, and on his haunches, and he lurches forward with power and speed just before slamming into Mikael with a massive gore like spear.
PERCY: THE HOWLER BY GENOCIDE TO MIKAEL!! THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE PAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!
CAT: Hey! Wolfe and Mikael are the Tag Champs, but Genocide...he's like a honey badger. He don't give a fuck!
Genocide snaps up off of his tag partner, tongue lolling out of his mouth, and his deranged eyes boring down onto Mikael. The sadistic sneer never leaves his face as he exits the ring, some of the crowd cheering, more of them booing. Genocide bangs the sides of his own head as he backs up the ramp, laughing uncontrollably and his eyes wild and untamed. Inside the ring, Mikael lays there in a heap cradling his midsection, staring up at the insane man that is still his tag team partner.
PERCY: Folks, I have no idea what in the hell just happened other than the fact that Genocide is crazy. I wonder what Wolfe will think when all this is over.
CAT: Does he ever think? I thought that was impossible.
PERCY: Cat, I'm not going to be drawn into an argument. This could be disastrous for our PAW Tag Team Champions, but right now, we've got to follow whatever's going on in the back, cause apparently this pandemonium is never going to end....
A dark back hallway of the Pure Arena is suddenly illuminated by the harsh light of a cellphone, showing us a half dark shot of a Security Officer wearing a PAW t-shirt.
SECURITY GUARD: Hey boss lady, we found him. It's not good.
The camera pans to show Johnny Raike, hand taped to a set of pipes, feet barely able to touch the ground. He shows sure signs of having been beaten first, and is to exhausted to stand as security team member lift him down. He can hardly speak, creaking out something that no one understands for a moment. Finally he manages it loud enough.
JOHNNY RAIKE: Water....
The Officer looks down at Raike as another security guard tips a bottle of water to his lips, before speaking into the phone.;
SECURITY GUARD: Let the med team know he's in sub-basement a. I want to make sure no one comes back to try and finish him.
With his call complete, the security officer hangs up, and takes a position over Raike.
SECURITY GUARD: Maybe you shouldn't go places alone, kid. It's not working out for ya.
The scene fades to commercial.
SECURITY GUARD: Hey boss lady, we found him. It's not good.
The camera pans to show Johnny Raike, hand taped to a set of pipes, feet barely able to touch the ground. He shows sure signs of having been beaten first, and is to exhausted to stand as security team member lift him down. He can hardly speak, creaking out something that no one understands for a moment. Finally he manages it loud enough.
JOHNNY RAIKE: Water....
The Officer looks down at Raike as another security guard tips a bottle of water to his lips, before speaking into the phone.;
SECURITY GUARD: Let the med team know he's in sub-basement a. I want to make sure no one comes back to try and finish him.
With his call complete, the security officer hangs up, and takes a position over Raike.
SECURITY GUARD: Maybe you shouldn't go places alone, kid. It's not working out for ya.
The scene fades to commercial.
WATCH NEW EPISODES OF 'HEXX'
ONLY ON THE CIRCLE TELEVISION NETWORK!
When the show returns from commercial, Kelsey Spencer comes into view pulling on her elbow pad as she power walks towards the gorilla position, her match being up next, and her cue is almost up. Just as she rounds the corner to enter the tunnel that leads to the steps that climb up onto the stage, she has to come to a sudden halt before crashing into a large mass standing in front of her. She pulls back, ready to apologize, but suddenly cuts herself short when she see's who it is she almost plowed into. Press crosses his arms over his chest, the PAW Heavyweight Championship slung over his shoulder. He eyes the woman for a minute, and then smirks a bit before leaning against one of the steel support beams that hold up the stage. Despite it's rating, it still groans under the massive man's weight, but he doesn't seem to notice as his focus is now completely on Kelsey.
PRESS: So, excited about the Main Event, huh?
Kelsey inhales sharply, indicating a hint of intimidation in the presence of the champion.
KELSEY SPENCER: Oh, yes! Very much, sir! Will you...be watching, by any chance..?
Press smirks again, and though his muscles tense a bit, the half casual smile he casts her is genuine.
PRESS: Well, darlin', it looks like you might be coming after my title, so yeah, i'll be watching.
Kelsey's head bows as she adjusts her wrist tape, her eyebrows furling a little with that nervous tic PAW fans have grown accustomed to.
KELSEY SPENCER: I'm honoured you'd take time out of your busy schedule to watch my match, but uhh...
She smacks her hand into her palm to test the tape. Seemingly satisfied with it, she glances back up at Press.
KELSEY SPENCER: ...I've been watching your matches since before I even got here. I've studied them.
While there's no doubt she respects everything Press has done for this promotion as its champion, there's a sense of snark in Spencer's tone. Perhaps Cross's influence? If Press feels any offense, he doesn't let it show, rather he continues to regard her with that lopsided smile.
PRESS: Well then, want some advice?
KELSEY SPENCER: Uhh... Advice?
Judging from her mannerisms, Kelsey certainly wasn't expecting that. For the most part, her PAW colleagues have been incredibly selfish. Her demeanour changes - her eyes light up and a slight smile appears on her face.
KELSEY SPENCER: I do..!
The smile he had been projecting faded, and a seriousness crept into his eyes.
PRESS: Target the lower back, the lumbar region. When I threw him from the ring at WICKED#5, it did damage to his L's. He may act like everythings fine, but I watch matches too. I know better. You soften that up, and he'll fold.
Kelsey's head shakes slightly as she ties her hair into a messy ponytail.
KELSEY SPENCER: Thanks for the tip, sir, but I've got my own strategy in mind.
Her eyes wander, coming to rest on the PAW Heavyweight Championship belt. She stares at it silently for a few moments, seemingly in a trance.
KELSEY SPENCER: That certainly is a beautiful championship...
She smirks, locking eyes with Press.
KELSEY SPENCER: ...and I'm gonna do everything in my power to make it mine!
The lopsided smile returns to the champion's face, and his eyebrows raise as he uncrosses his arms and pats the face plate of the title.
PRESS: I hope you do, Kelsey. I'd much rather it be you than Cross Recoba at Seven Deadly Sins.
KELSEY SPENCER: Then I won't disappoint you.
She flashes a confident grin at the champion - something we're certainly not used to seeing from her - before passing him on her way to make her entrance. Press grunts in response as he watches her go, his hands going to his hips as she clears the steps and gets into position. With a shake of his head, he makes his way to the monitoring station to watch the match.
PRESS: So, excited about the Main Event, huh?
Kelsey inhales sharply, indicating a hint of intimidation in the presence of the champion.
KELSEY SPENCER: Oh, yes! Very much, sir! Will you...be watching, by any chance..?
Press smirks again, and though his muscles tense a bit, the half casual smile he casts her is genuine.
PRESS: Well, darlin', it looks like you might be coming after my title, so yeah, i'll be watching.
Kelsey's head bows as she adjusts her wrist tape, her eyebrows furling a little with that nervous tic PAW fans have grown accustomed to.
KELSEY SPENCER: I'm honoured you'd take time out of your busy schedule to watch my match, but uhh...
She smacks her hand into her palm to test the tape. Seemingly satisfied with it, she glances back up at Press.
KELSEY SPENCER: ...I've been watching your matches since before I even got here. I've studied them.
While there's no doubt she respects everything Press has done for this promotion as its champion, there's a sense of snark in Spencer's tone. Perhaps Cross's influence? If Press feels any offense, he doesn't let it show, rather he continues to regard her with that lopsided smile.
PRESS: Well then, want some advice?
KELSEY SPENCER: Uhh... Advice?
Judging from her mannerisms, Kelsey certainly wasn't expecting that. For the most part, her PAW colleagues have been incredibly selfish. Her demeanour changes - her eyes light up and a slight smile appears on her face.
KELSEY SPENCER: I do..!
The smile he had been projecting faded, and a seriousness crept into his eyes.
PRESS: Target the lower back, the lumbar region. When I threw him from the ring at WICKED#5, it did damage to his L's. He may act like everythings fine, but I watch matches too. I know better. You soften that up, and he'll fold.
Kelsey's head shakes slightly as she ties her hair into a messy ponytail.
KELSEY SPENCER: Thanks for the tip, sir, but I've got my own strategy in mind.
Her eyes wander, coming to rest on the PAW Heavyweight Championship belt. She stares at it silently for a few moments, seemingly in a trance.
KELSEY SPENCER: That certainly is a beautiful championship...
She smirks, locking eyes with Press.
KELSEY SPENCER: ...and I'm gonna do everything in my power to make it mine!
The lopsided smile returns to the champion's face, and his eyebrows raise as he uncrosses his arms and pats the face plate of the title.
PRESS: I hope you do, Kelsey. I'd much rather it be you than Cross Recoba at Seven Deadly Sins.
KELSEY SPENCER: Then I won't disappoint you.
She flashes a confident grin at the champion - something we're certainly not used to seeing from her - before passing him on her way to make her entrance. Press grunts in response as he watches her go, his hands going to his hips as she clears the steps and gets into position. With a shake of his head, he makes his way to the monitoring station to watch the match.
{Main Event}
Singles Match
(The Winner Advances to the Seven Deadly Sins Ladder Match)
Kelsey Spencer versus Cross Recoba
PERCY: Words of encouragement from the PAW Champion, but it didn't seem like Kelsey was too keen on taking that advice.
CAT: She's a damn fool then, and what's up with him saying he'd rather face her than Cross Recoba? Is he trying to get in her head even before he has to face her?
PERCY: Good question, Cat, but right now...we have a qualifying match to witness!
RICHARD ANDERSON: The following contest is a singles match scheduled for one fall or submission, and the winner will go on to be a participant in the Seven Deadly Sins Ladder Match for the PAW Heavyweight Championship...
"First World Anarchist" by The Dollyrots blares through out the PA system, and Kelsey Spencer bursts out from behind the curtain, brimming with energy. She pauses at the edge of the stage to bring her hand over her eyes, and peer out at the capacity crowd that has come unglued at her presence.
RICHARD ANDERSON: Making her way to the ring, weighing in at 124 pounds, and hailing from Baltimore Maryland, She is 'Blue Thunder', KELSEY SPENCER!
Kelsey is all smiles as she makes her way down the ramp with a spring in her step, sometimes slapping the outstretched hands of young fans as she passes. She enters the ring by scaling the turnbuckle on the outside and jumping over the top rope, throwing up the sign of the horns with confidence. She applauds the fans as they continue to cheer, making her way over to a neutral corner to await her opponent. Despite her bubbly demeanor, there is a hint of reservation that can be seen in her eyes.
PERCY: Kelsey Spencer looks to be confident coming out here, but she seems a little off, to be honest.
CAT: It's not everyday that you have to fight the person who's been making advances on you. A little different than just taking on a best friend, so to speak.
PERCY: Yeah, I wonder if Cross Recoba will have any of those reservations when he gets out here?
CAT: I doubt it, but you never know.
The lights dim in the arena as Joe Walsh's 'Turn to Stone' sounds across the arena. The fans jeer and boo in disgust as they know what to expect when they hear the distinctive distorted power-chords that start the song. The lights focus on the entrance to the ramp as Cross Recoba comes through the curtain. He brushes his shag haircut off his eyes and looks at the crowd. He instinctively clutches the crucifix necklace that hangs from his neck.
RICHARD ANDERSON: And introducing her opponent, weighing in at 230 pounds, and hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, he is 'The Fox', CROSS RECOBA!!
Cross walks to the ring with purpose, only looking away from the ring to answer hecklers in the crowd. He leaps onto the apron and smiles as he sees his disapproving audience before stepping through the ropes, and settling into the closest corner. He makes no move to really acknowledge Kelsey Spencer, as Senior Official Sharon Orbach checks him over for any foreign objects. Satisfied he's not packing, she steps to the center of the ring and signals for the bell.
PERCY: Well, there's the bell, and this one's underway, but neither of the competitors looks too keen on starting this match. They are just staring at each other from their neutral corners.
CAT: Man, it would be a shame if we didn't see at least a little bloodshed here. I mean, what's the point of having two potential lovers fight if there isn't an equal potential that this will ruin their relationship?
PERCY: That's terrible, Cat.
CAT: Nah, Percy, it's just good Television.
Cross and Kelsey lock up in the center of the ring, and immediately Kelsey slips in behind Cross, taking his arm with him and trapping it behind him in a hammerlock. Cross searches for an escape, reaching between his legs, and trying to spin out of it to no avail. He raises his arm as if he is considering a back elbow, but then he thinks better of it, letting his free arm fall to his side. Finally, he's able to reverse the hold on Kelsey's wrist, and pushes past and behind her, reversing the hold and hemming her up with a hammerlock of his own. He quickly releases the arm, and reaches up to snatch Kelsey's head down into a headlock. Kelsey wedges her arms between Cross' body and herself, and manages to force her head out of the lock, only to step forward and lock Cross into one of her own. Cross quickly hooks the back of Kelsey's legs, and lifts her high into the air, but with a few kicks of her feet she comes back down to her mat. She doesn't stop in her descent at her feet, as she drops down to one knee and takes Cross to the mat with a headlock takeover.
PERCY: These two are putting on a clinic in the early goings of this match. You have to believe that the wrestling holds are due to not wishing to inflict serious harm to one another.
CAT: I'm telling you, Percy, at some point or another one of these two are going to slip up and nail the other, and all of this grab ass is going to go right out the window. My bet's are on Cross being the one who takes the cheap shot.
Cross pushes Kelsey's head back just under her chin, and reaches up with both legs, forcing her to release the headlock while he ties her up in a head scissors. Kelsey struggles for a minute, and then lies flat on her back, rocking her legs against her chest, and then throwing them forward, resulting in a kip up out of the hold. Cross quickly pops up to his feet, but Kelsey is there to meet him with a headlock, and then takes him right back into a takeover and back down to the mat.
PERCY: Well, that's one way of doing it. Kelsey has Cross right back where they started, and it's up to him to try and figure a way out of it.
Recoba opts not to go for another leg scissors, but rather grabs Kelsey by her thigh, and rolls through into a surprising pin. S.O. drops for the cover.
1...
2...
PERCY: Kick out by Kelsey at two, but it did force her to release the hold. Both competitors coming back to their feet, and Cross goes for a hip toss, but Kelsey reverses, floating over in front of him and hooking him for one of her own. Cross repeats the process, and again, and again...both competitors reversing all the way to the ropes, and THERE GOES KELSEY RIGHT UP AND OVER THE TOP!
CAT: Yeah, but she landed safely on the ring apron!
Cross spins around with his fist raised to connect, but he hesitates for just a moment, allowing Kelsey to grab the middle rope, and then spring load her self beneath the bottom rope and right between his legs. The move surprises Recoba, giving Kelsey enough time to pop up behind him and get him in a waist lock before pushing him against the ropes. When they both rebound, she rolls backwards, taking Cross with her, and the rotation ends with Cross down on his shoulders with his legs above his head, and Kelsey Spencer sitting on those legs.
1...
2...
Cross kicks forwards hard sending Kelsey from her seated position to sailing right through the top and middle rope head first. She strikes the concrete hard, and instinctively grabs at her shoulder that suffered injuries at the hands of Summer on ADDICTION#2. Cross gets to his feet, and quickly slips through the ropes, pausing with a perplexing look on his face as he stares down at Kelsey, who's trying to get to her feet. The fans boo him, but he pays them no mind, and he shakes his head as he grabs the woman by the scruff of her neck and the seat of her pants and tosses her back into the ring. He follows with a cover, and a deep hook of the leg.
1...
2...
PERCY: Kelsey Spencer kicks out at two, but the bigger story is that Cross Recoba, one of the dirtiest players here in PAW, just went to the outside with his opponent and didn't go for anything devious!
CAT: I know, right? That's disgusting.
PERCY: I think the faith that Spencer has put in Recoba has had a positive effect on 'The Fox'.
CAT: I'll tell you what it is, Percy, and that's bullshit. Cross Recoba is not a nice guy, and acting as such to impress some skank isn't going to change that fact.
Cross pulls Kelsey up to her feet, and takes her by the injured limb, and cranks it into a deep dragon twist. Kelsey winces, and slaps at her shoulder, but shakes her head when Sharon Orsbach asks her if she's done. Cross spins through with another twist, torquing up on the arm even tighter. He switches positions to where he's now beside Kelsey with her arm twisted up in front of him, and he places his elbow on her shoulder, forcing her down to her knee's. He cinches up on the arm, turning it into a standing arm breaker, which causes Kelsey to cry out in pain.
CAT: You see! He knows she's had problems out of that shoulder in the past, and most recently because of Summer, and he's on that shit like a shark that smells blood.
PERCY: Well that's just good wrestling strategy, Cat. Nothing wrong with that.
Kelsey shakes her head 'no' repeatedly, and fights her way back up to her feet, Cross still maintaining his hold as he rises with her. Kelsey begins to run in place, and then starts to pull Cross around in circles in the center of the ring. He retains the hold for a few revolutions, but after the fourth he's unable to maintain his hold, and when he releases Kelsey she runs for the closest ropes, springboards off the second, and spins in midair to hook Cross around the head with her legs and take him hurtling to the mat with a headscissor takeover. Cross bounces across the canvas, and almost back up to his feet, as Kelsey rises rubbing feeling back into her shoulder. Cross is still a little off balance from the spinning, and he stumbles towards Kelsey who rushes out to meet him. Just as Kelsey reaches out to grab Cross, he snaps out with a massive European Upper Cut that sends Kelsey crashing down to the mat. The fans boo as Cross shakes the cobwebs, and then looks down at Kelsey, and what he'd just done.
PERCY: Cross almost looks remorseful here, and all he did was react to an oncoming opponent. At the same time, he's done almost everything in his power to keep from actually striking the woman, and it appears he's the first to have crossed the line.
CAT: Now, let's see him lay the boots to her!
PERCY: CAT!
Cross steps back away from her while she slowly rises to her feet, now holding her jaw. She flashes cautious eyes up at the man, and he gives her an apologetic shrug, before snatching her injured arm, and dropping straight back into an arm breaker slam. Kelsey recoils across the mat after impact, grabbing at her arm, and Cross quickly gets to his feet to chase after her. He reaches down and grabs a hold of the injured limb, spins around it, and then falls back into a full fledged arm breaker. Kelsey cries out in anguish as Recoba yanks back like a pit bull, unmercifully trying to separate the woman's arm right out of its socket.
CAT: And you were saying, Percy?
PERCY: Well, yes, it looks like Cross Recoba has decided to up the ante here, but it's still just good common sense wrestling.
While the two announcers deliberate about Cross Recoba's tactics, Kelsey grinds her teeth in the ring to keep from submitting. She gradually pulls herself closer to the ropes, each movement putting more and more pressure on her injured arm and shoulder. Despite the fact, however, she finds her fingertips locking onto the bottom rope, forcing the break. Cross remains locked up for a count of four from S.O., before finally releasing the hold and popping up to his feet. He reaches down and yanks Kelsey up to her feet, and whips her hard to the farthest corner. She crashes against it, and slumps, as Cross comes rushing in for an assault. At the last second she manages to throw both feet up, and they catch Recoba square in the face which sends him thundering down to the canvas. Kelsey, now rotating her arm repeatedly while rubbing it, steps up onto the bottom, and then up to the second rope. When Cross manages to get to his feet, he turns to face her, and walks right into a cross body that takes them both down to the mat. Kelsey manages to stay on top for the cover.
1...
2...
PERCY: Kick Out by Recoba at two, and Kelsey's getting to her feet, still gripping that injured arm. Recoba getting to his feet as well, and now Kelsey running past him, leaps to the second for a springboard, and spins back around with a kick right to the back of Recoba's head!
CAT: Looks like Recoba's not the only one who's breaking out all the stops.
PERCY: Seems only fair to me, and perfectly legal might I add.
Kelsey pops up as Cross rubs the back of his head, and makes her way towards the nearest corner. She steps out on the apron, and begins to climb all the way to the top. Once perched, she waits for Recoba to get to his feet, and when he turns in her direction she leaps off with a missile dropkick that catches him right in the chest. The blow knocks him down hard to the mat, and Kelsey scrambles to hook the leg for a cover.
1...
2...
THRE-KICK OUT! Cross' shoulder shoots up off the mat at the last second, and Kelsey gets to her feet, looking around for what she might do next. She nods to herself, and the capacity crowd that is cheering her on, before making her way back over to another corner. She doesn't bother with the apron, but instead bounds up from the inside, turning to face Cross who still lays on the mat. She signals to the crowd with her good arm, and then leaps high into the air for a Frog Splash. Unfortunately for her, Cross manages to scoot out of the way, and she finds nothing but open canvas. She impacts harshly with the mat, and immediately coils up, grabbing at her shoulder. Cross takes the momentary break to catch his breath by rolling out of the ring.
PERCY: Cross wisely taking some time to recover while Kelsey agonizes over that injury. Maybe Sharon should think about calling this one. The young woman needs to think about her career.
CAT: Are you kidding me, Percy? Kelsey Spencer knew exactly what she was doing coming into this match, despite all the fuzzy wuzzies she feels for Cross. They are here to do battle for a coveted spot in that Main Event at Seven Deadly Sins, and I'll be damned they are going through with it, relationship be damned.
Cross still rubs at the back of his aching head on the outside when Kelsey gets to her feet in the ring, clutching at her shoulder all the while. She see's Cross out there, and she looks down at her shoulder, and then back at the man who had helped to add damage to it. A determined look crosses her face, and she falls back into the ropes for spring, bounds across the ring, and then leaps clear over the top rope into a front flip. Cross has just enough time to turn around before he's creamed with a senton that sends both of them down to the mat. The fans come to their feet in shock and cheers, and a chant goes up from the crowd.
PERCY: This indeed is awesome, folks, but now both competitors laid out on the arena floor, and our Senior Official has no other choice but to begin the count!
1...
2...
3...
CAT: C'Mon Fools! Get back in there! It can't end like this!
4...
5...
6...
PERCY: Wait a minute....both of them are starting to stir.
7...
8...
Both Cross and Kelsey get to their feet around the same time.
9...
They share a look across at one another, beaten and battered.
TE-At the last possible nano-second, both Cross and Kelsey bound under the bottom rope into the ring, breaking the count that threatened to take them out of the match. Both scramble to their feet. Cross moves in for a boot to Kelsey's midsection, but she catches him by the ankle, spins down the length of his leg to bring the back of her heel in for a leg sweep. Cross slams down to the mat, and Kelsey immediately lets loose of his ankle, grabs the top rope, springs upwards with her legs in a split. The backs of her thighs hit the top rope, propelling her into a moonsault that slams her down across Recoba with authority.
PERCY: SPLIT LEGGED MOONSAULT FROM KELSEY! She rarely uses that move anymore, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
CAT: Yeah, but she isn't able to go for the cover! She's just rolling around holding her shoulder....no..wait, there it is!
1...
2...
THRE-Recoba's close proximity to the ropes allows him to drape a foot across the bottom one, ending the count. Kelsey looks up in bewilderment, and looks to Sharon who explains. She shakes her head in disbelief, and grabs cross by his arm and his ankle, and pulls his lifeless body out to the center of the ring. Once in position, she prepares to go for another pin attempt, but a sudden kick directly to her injured shoulder from Cross sends a wave of agony and shock through her body. Suddenly, Cross hooks her around the head with his arm, and snakes a leg through hers, and yanks her down into a small package.
PERCY: OH MY GOD!
1...
2...
3!!!
At the third beat against the mat, Cross lets loose of his clasped hands, and rolls a safe distance away to lay face down on the mat while Kelsey grips at her injured shoulder, and shakes her head 'No'.
CAT: Cross Recoba just stole himself a one way ticket to the Main Event of Seven Deadly Sins!
PERCY: I...I can't believe it.
RICHARD ANDERSON: The winner of this match, and the fifth participant in the Main Event for the PAW Heavyweight Championship at Seven Deadly Sins, 'The Fox', CROSS RECOBA!
CAT: Believe it, Percy. That just made it official!
PERCY: Good Lord. That means Press will defend against Nova Wonder, Black Jack Colter, Mikael, and Cross Recoba. That leaves us two spots, and I know one of those will be decided two weeks from now on ADDICTION! But what about the seventh spot?
CAT: Your guess is as good as mine. That's above my pay grade.
PERCY: Hey...wait a minute. Check out inside the ring. Both competitors are back on their feet.
Recoba rubs at the back of his head, while Kelsey clutches at her shoulder, both superstars staring across the ring at one another. Finally, Cross takes a step forwards, causing Kelsey to flinch and take a step back. He pauses, a strange look of concern creeping over his face. He closes his eyes for a moment, steadying his breathing, and then steps to the center of the ring, and extends his hand. The fans reign down boo's on the man, but he pays them no mind, his eyes never leaving Kelsey's. After a moment, Kelsey steps out to meet him, and with a slight nod of respect, she takes his hand. 'Turn to Stone' hits over the PA system, and Cross gives Kelsey a genuine smile, before lifting her good arm in the air in victory. The fans cheer the spectacle, Cross knowing full well their cheers are for Kelsey and not himself. The camera pans the arena, finally settling on the two in the ring as they talk with one another about what they had just endured. The scene fades to the PAW Logo, then to the Circle Television Network log, and then to black.
CAT: She's a damn fool then, and what's up with him saying he'd rather face her than Cross Recoba? Is he trying to get in her head even before he has to face her?
PERCY: Good question, Cat, but right now...we have a qualifying match to witness!
RICHARD ANDERSON: The following contest is a singles match scheduled for one fall or submission, and the winner will go on to be a participant in the Seven Deadly Sins Ladder Match for the PAW Heavyweight Championship...
"First World Anarchist" by The Dollyrots blares through out the PA system, and Kelsey Spencer bursts out from behind the curtain, brimming with energy. She pauses at the edge of the stage to bring her hand over her eyes, and peer out at the capacity crowd that has come unglued at her presence.
RICHARD ANDERSON: Making her way to the ring, weighing in at 124 pounds, and hailing from Baltimore Maryland, She is 'Blue Thunder', KELSEY SPENCER!
Kelsey is all smiles as she makes her way down the ramp with a spring in her step, sometimes slapping the outstretched hands of young fans as she passes. She enters the ring by scaling the turnbuckle on the outside and jumping over the top rope, throwing up the sign of the horns with confidence. She applauds the fans as they continue to cheer, making her way over to a neutral corner to await her opponent. Despite her bubbly demeanor, there is a hint of reservation that can be seen in her eyes.
PERCY: Kelsey Spencer looks to be confident coming out here, but she seems a little off, to be honest.
CAT: It's not everyday that you have to fight the person who's been making advances on you. A little different than just taking on a best friend, so to speak.
PERCY: Yeah, I wonder if Cross Recoba will have any of those reservations when he gets out here?
CAT: I doubt it, but you never know.
The lights dim in the arena as Joe Walsh's 'Turn to Stone' sounds across the arena. The fans jeer and boo in disgust as they know what to expect when they hear the distinctive distorted power-chords that start the song. The lights focus on the entrance to the ramp as Cross Recoba comes through the curtain. He brushes his shag haircut off his eyes and looks at the crowd. He instinctively clutches the crucifix necklace that hangs from his neck.
RICHARD ANDERSON: And introducing her opponent, weighing in at 230 pounds, and hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, he is 'The Fox', CROSS RECOBA!!
Cross walks to the ring with purpose, only looking away from the ring to answer hecklers in the crowd. He leaps onto the apron and smiles as he sees his disapproving audience before stepping through the ropes, and settling into the closest corner. He makes no move to really acknowledge Kelsey Spencer, as Senior Official Sharon Orbach checks him over for any foreign objects. Satisfied he's not packing, she steps to the center of the ring and signals for the bell.
PERCY: Well, there's the bell, and this one's underway, but neither of the competitors looks too keen on starting this match. They are just staring at each other from their neutral corners.
CAT: Man, it would be a shame if we didn't see at least a little bloodshed here. I mean, what's the point of having two potential lovers fight if there isn't an equal potential that this will ruin their relationship?
PERCY: That's terrible, Cat.
CAT: Nah, Percy, it's just good Television.
Cross and Kelsey lock up in the center of the ring, and immediately Kelsey slips in behind Cross, taking his arm with him and trapping it behind him in a hammerlock. Cross searches for an escape, reaching between his legs, and trying to spin out of it to no avail. He raises his arm as if he is considering a back elbow, but then he thinks better of it, letting his free arm fall to his side. Finally, he's able to reverse the hold on Kelsey's wrist, and pushes past and behind her, reversing the hold and hemming her up with a hammerlock of his own. He quickly releases the arm, and reaches up to snatch Kelsey's head down into a headlock. Kelsey wedges her arms between Cross' body and herself, and manages to force her head out of the lock, only to step forward and lock Cross into one of her own. Cross quickly hooks the back of Kelsey's legs, and lifts her high into the air, but with a few kicks of her feet she comes back down to her mat. She doesn't stop in her descent at her feet, as she drops down to one knee and takes Cross to the mat with a headlock takeover.
PERCY: These two are putting on a clinic in the early goings of this match. You have to believe that the wrestling holds are due to not wishing to inflict serious harm to one another.
CAT: I'm telling you, Percy, at some point or another one of these two are going to slip up and nail the other, and all of this grab ass is going to go right out the window. My bet's are on Cross being the one who takes the cheap shot.
Cross pushes Kelsey's head back just under her chin, and reaches up with both legs, forcing her to release the headlock while he ties her up in a head scissors. Kelsey struggles for a minute, and then lies flat on her back, rocking her legs against her chest, and then throwing them forward, resulting in a kip up out of the hold. Cross quickly pops up to his feet, but Kelsey is there to meet him with a headlock, and then takes him right back into a takeover and back down to the mat.
PERCY: Well, that's one way of doing it. Kelsey has Cross right back where they started, and it's up to him to try and figure a way out of it.
Recoba opts not to go for another leg scissors, but rather grabs Kelsey by her thigh, and rolls through into a surprising pin. S.O. drops for the cover.
1...
2...
PERCY: Kick out by Kelsey at two, but it did force her to release the hold. Both competitors coming back to their feet, and Cross goes for a hip toss, but Kelsey reverses, floating over in front of him and hooking him for one of her own. Cross repeats the process, and again, and again...both competitors reversing all the way to the ropes, and THERE GOES KELSEY RIGHT UP AND OVER THE TOP!
CAT: Yeah, but she landed safely on the ring apron!
Cross spins around with his fist raised to connect, but he hesitates for just a moment, allowing Kelsey to grab the middle rope, and then spring load her self beneath the bottom rope and right between his legs. The move surprises Recoba, giving Kelsey enough time to pop up behind him and get him in a waist lock before pushing him against the ropes. When they both rebound, she rolls backwards, taking Cross with her, and the rotation ends with Cross down on his shoulders with his legs above his head, and Kelsey Spencer sitting on those legs.
1...
2...
Cross kicks forwards hard sending Kelsey from her seated position to sailing right through the top and middle rope head first. She strikes the concrete hard, and instinctively grabs at her shoulder that suffered injuries at the hands of Summer on ADDICTION#2. Cross gets to his feet, and quickly slips through the ropes, pausing with a perplexing look on his face as he stares down at Kelsey, who's trying to get to her feet. The fans boo him, but he pays them no mind, and he shakes his head as he grabs the woman by the scruff of her neck and the seat of her pants and tosses her back into the ring. He follows with a cover, and a deep hook of the leg.
1...
2...
PERCY: Kelsey Spencer kicks out at two, but the bigger story is that Cross Recoba, one of the dirtiest players here in PAW, just went to the outside with his opponent and didn't go for anything devious!
CAT: I know, right? That's disgusting.
PERCY: I think the faith that Spencer has put in Recoba has had a positive effect on 'The Fox'.
CAT: I'll tell you what it is, Percy, and that's bullshit. Cross Recoba is not a nice guy, and acting as such to impress some skank isn't going to change that fact.
Cross pulls Kelsey up to her feet, and takes her by the injured limb, and cranks it into a deep dragon twist. Kelsey winces, and slaps at her shoulder, but shakes her head when Sharon Orsbach asks her if she's done. Cross spins through with another twist, torquing up on the arm even tighter. He switches positions to where he's now beside Kelsey with her arm twisted up in front of him, and he places his elbow on her shoulder, forcing her down to her knee's. He cinches up on the arm, turning it into a standing arm breaker, which causes Kelsey to cry out in pain.
CAT: You see! He knows she's had problems out of that shoulder in the past, and most recently because of Summer, and he's on that shit like a shark that smells blood.
PERCY: Well that's just good wrestling strategy, Cat. Nothing wrong with that.
Kelsey shakes her head 'no' repeatedly, and fights her way back up to her feet, Cross still maintaining his hold as he rises with her. Kelsey begins to run in place, and then starts to pull Cross around in circles in the center of the ring. He retains the hold for a few revolutions, but after the fourth he's unable to maintain his hold, and when he releases Kelsey she runs for the closest ropes, springboards off the second, and spins in midair to hook Cross around the head with her legs and take him hurtling to the mat with a headscissor takeover. Cross bounces across the canvas, and almost back up to his feet, as Kelsey rises rubbing feeling back into her shoulder. Cross is still a little off balance from the spinning, and he stumbles towards Kelsey who rushes out to meet him. Just as Kelsey reaches out to grab Cross, he snaps out with a massive European Upper Cut that sends Kelsey crashing down to the mat. The fans boo as Cross shakes the cobwebs, and then looks down at Kelsey, and what he'd just done.
PERCY: Cross almost looks remorseful here, and all he did was react to an oncoming opponent. At the same time, he's done almost everything in his power to keep from actually striking the woman, and it appears he's the first to have crossed the line.
CAT: Now, let's see him lay the boots to her!
PERCY: CAT!
Cross steps back away from her while she slowly rises to her feet, now holding her jaw. She flashes cautious eyes up at the man, and he gives her an apologetic shrug, before snatching her injured arm, and dropping straight back into an arm breaker slam. Kelsey recoils across the mat after impact, grabbing at her arm, and Cross quickly gets to his feet to chase after her. He reaches down and grabs a hold of the injured limb, spins around it, and then falls back into a full fledged arm breaker. Kelsey cries out in anguish as Recoba yanks back like a pit bull, unmercifully trying to separate the woman's arm right out of its socket.
CAT: And you were saying, Percy?
PERCY: Well, yes, it looks like Cross Recoba has decided to up the ante here, but it's still just good common sense wrestling.
While the two announcers deliberate about Cross Recoba's tactics, Kelsey grinds her teeth in the ring to keep from submitting. She gradually pulls herself closer to the ropes, each movement putting more and more pressure on her injured arm and shoulder. Despite the fact, however, she finds her fingertips locking onto the bottom rope, forcing the break. Cross remains locked up for a count of four from S.O., before finally releasing the hold and popping up to his feet. He reaches down and yanks Kelsey up to her feet, and whips her hard to the farthest corner. She crashes against it, and slumps, as Cross comes rushing in for an assault. At the last second she manages to throw both feet up, and they catch Recoba square in the face which sends him thundering down to the canvas. Kelsey, now rotating her arm repeatedly while rubbing it, steps up onto the bottom, and then up to the second rope. When Cross manages to get to his feet, he turns to face her, and walks right into a cross body that takes them both down to the mat. Kelsey manages to stay on top for the cover.
1...
2...
PERCY: Kick Out by Recoba at two, and Kelsey's getting to her feet, still gripping that injured arm. Recoba getting to his feet as well, and now Kelsey running past him, leaps to the second for a springboard, and spins back around with a kick right to the back of Recoba's head!
CAT: Looks like Recoba's not the only one who's breaking out all the stops.
PERCY: Seems only fair to me, and perfectly legal might I add.
Kelsey pops up as Cross rubs the back of his head, and makes her way towards the nearest corner. She steps out on the apron, and begins to climb all the way to the top. Once perched, she waits for Recoba to get to his feet, and when he turns in her direction she leaps off with a missile dropkick that catches him right in the chest. The blow knocks him down hard to the mat, and Kelsey scrambles to hook the leg for a cover.
1...
2...
THRE-KICK OUT! Cross' shoulder shoots up off the mat at the last second, and Kelsey gets to her feet, looking around for what she might do next. She nods to herself, and the capacity crowd that is cheering her on, before making her way back over to another corner. She doesn't bother with the apron, but instead bounds up from the inside, turning to face Cross who still lays on the mat. She signals to the crowd with her good arm, and then leaps high into the air for a Frog Splash. Unfortunately for her, Cross manages to scoot out of the way, and she finds nothing but open canvas. She impacts harshly with the mat, and immediately coils up, grabbing at her shoulder. Cross takes the momentary break to catch his breath by rolling out of the ring.
PERCY: Cross wisely taking some time to recover while Kelsey agonizes over that injury. Maybe Sharon should think about calling this one. The young woman needs to think about her career.
CAT: Are you kidding me, Percy? Kelsey Spencer knew exactly what she was doing coming into this match, despite all the fuzzy wuzzies she feels for Cross. They are here to do battle for a coveted spot in that Main Event at Seven Deadly Sins, and I'll be damned they are going through with it, relationship be damned.
Cross still rubs at the back of his aching head on the outside when Kelsey gets to her feet in the ring, clutching at her shoulder all the while. She see's Cross out there, and she looks down at her shoulder, and then back at the man who had helped to add damage to it. A determined look crosses her face, and she falls back into the ropes for spring, bounds across the ring, and then leaps clear over the top rope into a front flip. Cross has just enough time to turn around before he's creamed with a senton that sends both of them down to the mat. The fans come to their feet in shock and cheers, and a chant goes up from the crowd.
CROWD: THIS IS AWESOME! *ClAP CLAP CLAP* THIS IS AWESOME! *CLAP CLAP CLAP*
PERCY: This indeed is awesome, folks, but now both competitors laid out on the arena floor, and our Senior Official has no other choice but to begin the count!
1...
2...
3...
CAT: C'Mon Fools! Get back in there! It can't end like this!
4...
5...
6...
PERCY: Wait a minute....both of them are starting to stir.
7...
8...
Both Cross and Kelsey get to their feet around the same time.
9...
They share a look across at one another, beaten and battered.
TE-At the last possible nano-second, both Cross and Kelsey bound under the bottom rope into the ring, breaking the count that threatened to take them out of the match. Both scramble to their feet. Cross moves in for a boot to Kelsey's midsection, but she catches him by the ankle, spins down the length of his leg to bring the back of her heel in for a leg sweep. Cross slams down to the mat, and Kelsey immediately lets loose of his ankle, grabs the top rope, springs upwards with her legs in a split. The backs of her thighs hit the top rope, propelling her into a moonsault that slams her down across Recoba with authority.
PERCY: SPLIT LEGGED MOONSAULT FROM KELSEY! She rarely uses that move anymore, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
CAT: Yeah, but she isn't able to go for the cover! She's just rolling around holding her shoulder....no..wait, there it is!
1...
2...
THRE-Recoba's close proximity to the ropes allows him to drape a foot across the bottom one, ending the count. Kelsey looks up in bewilderment, and looks to Sharon who explains. She shakes her head in disbelief, and grabs cross by his arm and his ankle, and pulls his lifeless body out to the center of the ring. Once in position, she prepares to go for another pin attempt, but a sudden kick directly to her injured shoulder from Cross sends a wave of agony and shock through her body. Suddenly, Cross hooks her around the head with his arm, and snakes a leg through hers, and yanks her down into a small package.
PERCY: OH MY GOD!
1...
2...
3!!!
At the third beat against the mat, Cross lets loose of his clasped hands, and rolls a safe distance away to lay face down on the mat while Kelsey grips at her injured shoulder, and shakes her head 'No'.
CAT: Cross Recoba just stole himself a one way ticket to the Main Event of Seven Deadly Sins!
PERCY: I...I can't believe it.
RICHARD ANDERSON: The winner of this match, and the fifth participant in the Main Event for the PAW Heavyweight Championship at Seven Deadly Sins, 'The Fox', CROSS RECOBA!
CAT: Believe it, Percy. That just made it official!
PERCY: Good Lord. That means Press will defend against Nova Wonder, Black Jack Colter, Mikael, and Cross Recoba. That leaves us two spots, and I know one of those will be decided two weeks from now on ADDICTION! But what about the seventh spot?
CAT: Your guess is as good as mine. That's above my pay grade.
PERCY: Hey...wait a minute. Check out inside the ring. Both competitors are back on their feet.
Recoba rubs at the back of his head, while Kelsey clutches at her shoulder, both superstars staring across the ring at one another. Finally, Cross takes a step forwards, causing Kelsey to flinch and take a step back. He pauses, a strange look of concern creeping over his face. He closes his eyes for a moment, steadying his breathing, and then steps to the center of the ring, and extends his hand. The fans reign down boo's on the man, but he pays them no mind, his eyes never leaving Kelsey's. After a moment, Kelsey steps out to meet him, and with a slight nod of respect, she takes his hand. 'Turn to Stone' hits over the PA system, and Cross gives Kelsey a genuine smile, before lifting her good arm in the air in victory. The fans cheer the spectacle, Cross knowing full well their cheers are for Kelsey and not himself. The camera pans the arena, finally settling on the two in the ring as they talk with one another about what they had just endured. The scene fades to the PAW Logo, then to the Circle Television Network log, and then to black.
